J
Jim
This is an interesting artical about the ATS Mechanical Valve. A "Must" read for anyone contemplating getting a Mechanical Valve....
The ATS Bileaflet Mechanical Valve at 6_ Years in 488 Consecutive Patients - Absence of Valve Thrombosis.
Peter J Tesar, Mark F O'Brien, Trevor M Fayers, Michael A Gardner, Lorraine E McLoughlin
The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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OBJECTIVE: The ATS Medical valve represents the second generation of bileaflet medical prosthesis implanted due to its open pivot hinge design, with suggested advantages of reduced valve-related complication (principally thrombotic and thromboembolic). We therefore report the intermediate term outcome analysis of the clinical use of this valve prosthesis at The Prince Charles Hospital. This is timely given the prosthesis is now available globally, having recently received FDA approval.
METHODS: From May 1994 to June 2000, 488 consecutive patients received 536 ATS Medical mechanical valve prostheses. This represents the total institutional experience. Complete follow up was then undertaken by a single research officer. The cumulative follow up was 1203 patient years. 327 implants were in the aortic position. 173 in the mitral position. There were four implants in the tricuspid position and one in the pulmonary position. Thirty-one aortic root replacements were performed with valve conduits. The age range was 0.3 to 85 years (median 59 years; mean 54.8 years). 63.4% were male and 36.6% were female.
RESULTS: The peri-operative mortality (30 day and/or in-hospital) was 1.2%. The actuarial survival at 6 years was 90%. The prosthesis met the Objective Performance Criteria (OPC) established to assess the safety of mechanical valves. Impressively, there were no valve thromboses ? the only absolute OPC without differential diagnosis.
CONCLUSION: The ATS Medical mechanical valve is a safe prosthesis associated with good patient outcomes. At our institution, currently this prosthesis has replaced alternatives to become the first choice mechanical valve implant when this is indicated.
The ATS Bileaflet Mechanical Valve at 6_ Years in 488 Consecutive Patients - Absence of Valve Thrombosis.
Peter J Tesar, Mark F O'Brien, Trevor M Fayers, Michael A Gardner, Lorraine E McLoughlin
The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OBJECTIVE: The ATS Medical valve represents the second generation of bileaflet medical prosthesis implanted due to its open pivot hinge design, with suggested advantages of reduced valve-related complication (principally thrombotic and thromboembolic). We therefore report the intermediate term outcome analysis of the clinical use of this valve prosthesis at The Prince Charles Hospital. This is timely given the prosthesis is now available globally, having recently received FDA approval.
METHODS: From May 1994 to June 2000, 488 consecutive patients received 536 ATS Medical mechanical valve prostheses. This represents the total institutional experience. Complete follow up was then undertaken by a single research officer. The cumulative follow up was 1203 patient years. 327 implants were in the aortic position. 173 in the mitral position. There were four implants in the tricuspid position and one in the pulmonary position. Thirty-one aortic root replacements were performed with valve conduits. The age range was 0.3 to 85 years (median 59 years; mean 54.8 years). 63.4% were male and 36.6% were female.
RESULTS: The peri-operative mortality (30 day and/or in-hospital) was 1.2%. The actuarial survival at 6 years was 90%. The prosthesis met the Objective Performance Criteria (OPC) established to assess the safety of mechanical valves. Impressively, there were no valve thromboses ? the only absolute OPC without differential diagnosis.
CONCLUSION: The ATS Medical mechanical valve is a safe prosthesis associated with good patient outcomes. At our institution, currently this prosthesis has replaced alternatives to become the first choice mechanical valve implant when this is indicated.