The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 81, 626-631, Copyright © 1981 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Embolic complications of porcine heterograft cardiac valves
WR Jamieson, MT Janusz, RT Miyagishima, AI Munro, H Tutassura, AN Gerein, LH Burr and P Allen
From January, 1975, until August, 1978, 509 porcine valves were implanted
in 465 patients. Patient follow-up was done at 6 to 45 months (mean 20.2
months), for a total observation of 713 patient-years. There were six early
embolic events (mitral four, aortic two). Four of these six patients were
in atrial fibrillation and none was receiving anticoagulants at the time of
the embolism. There were 18 late emboli. Four occurred in patients with
aortic prostheses and produced mild, transient symptoms only. Fourteen
occurred in patients with mitral or multiple prostheses. These resulted in
death in five patients and permanent sequelae in three. The rate of embolic
events was 1.32/100 patient-years for aortic prostheses, 3.27/100
patient-years for mitral prostheses, and 4.91/100 patient-years for
multiple prostheses. Thirteen of the 14 patients with emboli were in atrial
fibrillation and only three were receiving anticoagulants. Anticoagulation
is vital in patients with mitral prostheses who remain in atrial
fibrillation, but it appears unnecessary in patients with aortic prostheses
and those with mitral or multiple prostheses who remain in sinus rhythm.