CLINICAL AND ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC FOLLOW-UP AFTER AORTIC-VALVE RECONSTRUCTION WITH BOVINE OR AUTOLOGOUS PERICARDIUM

Eighty-six patients, mean age 29 +/- 15 years, underwent aortic valve reconstruction with bovine or autologous pericardial tissue, Mean clin ical follow-up was 35 months, Echocardiographic data were assessed in 65 patients with follow-up greater than or equal to 6 months, There we re two in-hospital and three late deaths, Warfarin was not given, and no thromboembolic events occurred. Five (6%) patients needed reoperati on because of severe aortic regurgitation, Peak aortic valve gradients remained low(26 +/- 14 mm Hg for the bovine group and 16 +/- 16 mm Hg for the autologous group), One patient is awaiting surgery for aortic stenosis after 76 months, Leaflet thickening at latest follow-up was marked in six (9%) patients, Left ventricular dimensions normalized po stoperatively and showed only insignificant increase during follow-up, This technique is a promising alternative to valve prosthesis in sele cted patients; however, longer follow-up is necessary to assess long-t erm results.