Long-term prognosis of mitral or aortic valve replacement by a Starr-Edwards prosthesis.

A Swr-Edwards Silsstic hd-valve prosthesis was inserted in 100 seriously d l M e d patients with isolated aortic (55 case) or m i l d (45 caws) valve dbease. The follow-up study for periods of Urree years or more resulted in the following points. The o v e d mortslity rate reached 35 percent in both groups. but the operative risks were t h m times lea in the mrtic thno in the m i i d group. Thrombocmbdi whkb might be effectively prevented h j a carefully conbolled antieoaguht treament were the most common complication. The hall variance. after aortic valve replacement, seemed to he inesrapahle in the long run. The functional improvement was mainly reached dur iq the second year following the operation and remained steady for a period of over three years. ie. half of the patients were aMe to -me a pro fes iod activity.