Functional results with aortic ball valve prostheses (Starr-Edwards) followed for two to three years.

It is now believed that aortic insufficiency and calcific aortic stenosis must be treated with total valve replacement. Until recently this was performed with the aid of prostheses of teflon and similar materials. Even if the short-term results were promising, follow-up studies revealed a high percentage of breakdown of these prostheses (Bjork, Cullhed, and Lodin, 1963; Larson and Kirklin, 1964). For the last three years we have used a ball valve prosthesis of the Starr and Edwards type (Bj6rk, 1964). The aim of this paper is to report the 'long-term' clinical and haemodynamic results with this valve.