ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the short term outcome after mitral valve replacement with the Perimount bovine pericardial valve. Methods Eighty-eight patients underwent mitral valve replacement with the bovine pericardial valve in hospital were included in this study. Postoperative general condition including mortality and cerebral hemorrhage was observed. The hemodynamic and New York heart disease association (NYHA) heart function classification were recorded by Doppler echocardiograms before operation, postoperative 1 week, 3 months and 1 year after mitral valve replacement. Values of the different time points of NYHA, left atrial diameter (LA), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVDD), left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVSD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) were compared. The hemodynamic parameters were also compared including the peak cross valve pressure (PG), mean cross valve pressure (MG), peak cross valve velocity (PV) and effective orifice area (EOA) 1 week, 3 months and 1 year after surgery. Results There were two cases (2.3%) dead in one year (one died of cerebral hemorrhage and another one died of thromboembolism). There was 1 perivalvular leakage (1.2%). There was no endocarditis or structural valve deterioration. NYHA cardiac function was improved at postoperative 3 months and 1 year (P < 0.05). The values of LA, LVDD and PAP were significantly decreased at postoperative 1 week, 3 months and 1 year compared with those before operation (P<0.05). Values of LVSD and LVEF were significantly decreased at postoperative 1 week compared with those before operation (P<0.05). The value of LVEF was significantly increased at postoperative 3 months and 1 year (P<0.05). Compared with postoperative 1 week, the values of LA and LVEF were significantly increased at postoperative 3 months and 1 year (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in PG, MG, PV and EOA between postoperative 1 week, 3 months and 1 year. Conclusion With the excellent performance of cardiac function recovery, left ventricular restoration and hemodynamic, the Perimount bovine pericardial valve remains a reliable choice as a mitral tissue valve.