IN-HOSPITAL AND LONG-TERM OUTCOME AFTER PORCINE TRICUSPID-VALVE REPLACEMENT

Porcine bioprostheses are often used for tricuspid valve replacement, yet the long-term outcome after this procedure is not well documented. Therefore, the records of 129 patients undergoing tricuspid valve rep lacement with Carpentier-Edwards (n = 88) or Hancock (n = 41) prosthes es between 1975 and 1993 were reviewed. The operation required a repea t median sternotomy in 66 of 129 (51%) patients, whereas 67 of 129 (52 %) underwent double or triple valve replacement. Operative mortality w as 14% (2/14) in patients undergoing first-time isolated tricuspid val ve replacement and 27% (35/129) overall. Survival at 5, 10, and 14 yea rs was 56% a 5%, 48% +/- 5%, and 31% +/- 9%, and freedom from tricuspi d reoperation at 5, 10, and 14 years was 96% +/- 3%, 93% +/- 4%, and 4 9% +/- 17%. No valve thrombosis was observed, In this largest reported series of porcine bioprostheses in the tricuspid position, long-term freedom from valve-related events was excellent because of a low incid ence of valve thrombosis and a valve durability of 13 to 15 years in a population with limited life expectancy.