Comparison of durability of bioprostheses in tricuspid and mitral positions

Background. Few reports have assessed differences in the du;ability of mitral and tricuspid bioprostheses after simultaneous implantation of the same bioprosthesis in both positions. We investigated the long-term outcome after simultaneous mitral valve replacement (MVR) and tricuspid valve supraannular implantation (TVSI) with the Carpentier-Edwards bioprostheses in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation and advanced mitral valve disease. Methods. Between 1982 and 1998, 37 patients in our hospital underwent MVR and TVSI with Carpentier-Edwards bioprostheses. The mean age of the patients was 55 +/- 11 years. The average postoperative follow-up was 7.9 +/- 4.5 years after surgery (range 0 to 14.6 years, 315.1 patient-years). The follow-up rate was 100%. We evaluated the actuarial survival rate, the actuarial freedom from structural valve deterioration (SVD) and reoperation, and postoperative complications. Results. The overall actuarial survival rate at 13 years after the operation was 69% +/- 31%. The actuarial freedom from SVD and reoperation in the mitral and tricuspid positions were 78 +/- 22 and 100% and 70 +/- 30 and 40% +/- 10% (p = 0.03), respectively. No patient had systemic or pulmonary thromboembolism, or complications associated with fatal arrhythmia. Conclusions. These results suggest that the bioprostheses in the tricuspid position yield significantly better long-term results than those in the mitral position after simultaneous MVR and TVSI. (C) 2001 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.