The CarboMedics valve is bileaflet prosthesis with excellent hemodynamic characteristics, but the long term surgical experience with this valve, its durability and its biocompatibility are unknown. During a 5 year period from october 1988 to July
1993,
748 prostheses(402 mitral, 261 aortic, 58 tricuspid, 27 pulmonic) were inserted in 552 patients(mean age 40.2 years). The operative mortality was 6%(37/560, 13.2% in age group below 15 years and 5.7% above 15 years). And the main causes of death
were
complex congenital malformation and left ventricular failure. Follow up was totaled 1182 patients-years and mean follow up was 28.3 months/patient. No structural failure has been observed.
Hemorrhage was the most frequent valve related complication(1.78%/Patient-year). Embolism occurred at a rate of 0.93%/Patient-year. There were 5 cases of valve thrombosis(0.42%/Patient-year, two fatal). There occurred 11 late deaths(6 valve
related) and
42 valve related complications. Actuarial survival at 5 years is 97.18*0.94% and actuarial complication free survival at 5 years is 89.07*1.54%. In summary, the CarboMedics valve stands for a durable valve substitute, with low valve related
compiications. (Korean J Thoracic Cardiovas Surg 1993;26:753-60)
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