One hundred eighty-eighty-eight patients (August. 23, 1988, through July. 30, 1994) underwent aortic (AVR), mitral (MVR), or double (DVR) valve replacement with the ST. Jude Medical prosthesis. The author analyzed 100 patients with valvular heart
disease, who underwent valve replacement with the St. Jude Medical prosthesis from 1990 to 1994, at Hanyang University hospital Cardiovascular department. Information on volume and functional change of the heart chamber can be obtained by cardiac
echocardiography and cartheterizastion. Out of 100 patients, 40 patients were male (40%) and 60 patients were female (60%). Age ranged from 13 years to 68 years, with mean age of 42.6 years. Mean heigtht was 160.3cm and mean body weight was
54.9kg.
According to NYHA functional classification, class Ⅲ is most frequent and 60 patients could be classfied under it. MVR (involved Redo MVR) was performed in 40 patients, AVR (involved Redo AVR) was performed in 18 patients, and DVR (involved Redo
DVR)
was performed in 42 patients. Warfarin (Coumadin) anticoagulation was recommended for all patients.
Life long warfarin anticoagulation was necessary to all patients who underwent valve replacement with St. Jude Medical prosthesis. Ideal prothrombin time was maintained about 30% during warfarinization. There were no case of mechanical failure.
It
followed a comparison of echocardiography before and after valve replacement at Hanvang University hospital (30 patients) and a preoperative evaluation of cardiac cathererization and angiography (64 patients). The St. Jude Medical cardiac valve
is
a
viable alternative in the surgical therapy of valvular heart disease.
(Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1995;28:1122-31)
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