No abstract

Coronary artery bypass grafting should be considered as a possible alternative for coronary revascularization in young children. Although our series shows quite a good patency rate, this procedure remains a technical challenge and requires careful follow-up.

The second-generation Carpentier-Edwards bioprostheses, the supra-annular porcine valve and the PERIMOUNT pericardial valve, have been evaluated longitudinally for several years. This study compared clinical performance over 15 years. Aortic valve replacement was performed with a supra-annular porcine valve in 1,823 patients (group 1) aged 19-89 years (mean, 68.9 +/- 10.9 years) and with a PERIMOUNT pericardial bioprosthesis in 1,430 patients (group 2) aged 16-90 years (mean, 69.5 +/- 10.4 years). The groups were similar except for concomitant coronary artery bypass in 43% of group 1 and 18% of group 2 ( p < 0.001). Overall survival at 15 years was 29.3% +/- 1.5% for group 1 and 35.2% +/- 3.1% for group 2 ( p = 0.0009). The actual freedom from valve-related mortality was 88.5% +/- 0.9% for group 1 and 84.9% +/- 1.7% for group 2. The actual freedom from structural valve deterioration at 15 years was similar overall, and for patients aged > 60 years, between the groups, but was dissimilar (group 2 > group 1) for age group 2), sex (male > female), age, and concomitant coronary artery bypass. Both bioprostheses provided satisfactory clinical performance at 15 years after aortic valve replacement.