Biological versus mechanical valves in the mitral position

The long-term late results of isolated mitral valve replacement before April 1981 were retrospectively evaluated in 54 patients receiving a Hancock valve (HX) with a total follow-up of 424 patient-years (py) and 37 patients receiving a Björk-Shiley valve (BS) with a total follow-up of 366 py. There was no significant difference in regard to preoperative age, cardiothoracic ratio, electrocardiogram, or New York Heart Association functional class between the two groups. All of the BS group and 43 of the HX patients received long-term anticoagulant therapy. No significant difference was notable between the two groups in hospital mortality. Actuarial survival rate excluding hospital deaths was 75.5 +/- 6.7% for the HX group, and 80.8 +/- 7.1% for the BS group at ten years (not significant). There was no significant difference between the two groups in overall incidence of thromboembolism (HX 1.4% py, BS 1.9% py), anticoagulant related bleeding (HX 0.5% py, BS 0.8% py), or endocarditis (HX 0.5% py, BS 0.3% py). Actuarial freedom from reoperation at ten years was 69.6 +/- 8.1% for the HX group, and 93.5 +/- 4.4% for the BS group (p less than 0.01). Event free survival excluding hospital deaths at ten years was 49.2 +/- 8.1% for the HX group, 70.6 +/- 8.3% for the BS group (p less than 0.05). We prefer a mechanical prosthesis except in patients over 65 years old, who have a short life expectancy, in whom anticoagulation is thought to be difficult, and who hope a biological valve.