St. Jude Medical cardiac valve replacement was performed in 322 patients : 191 had mitral, 58 had aortic, 72 had double valve and 3 had tricuspid valve replacement. Motality rate in early period was 2.8%(9 patients). The most common cause of
early
death
was low cardic output syndrome. Follow up extended from 1 to 90 months(mean : 34 months) in 292 patients among 313 in all surviving patients (93.6%). There were thrombolic complications in eighteen patients. The probability of free from
thromboembolism
at 5 years in MVR, AVR and DVR were 84.7%, 91.8% and 90.2% respectively. And also, actuarial event free rate at 5 years in MVR, AVR and DVR were 80.1%, 82.2%, and 81.4% respectively. There were fourteen late death during follow up period : six
from
thromboembolism, one from hemorrhage and the others from non valve related or unknown complications. The acturial survival rate at 5 years were 93.1% in mitral, 92.1% in aortic and 97.1% in double valve replacement. In conclusion, the performance
of the
St. Jude Mecanical valve compares most favorably with other artificial valves. But it remains still hazards of mechanical prosthesis such as thromboembolism and anticoagulant related hemorrhage.
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