Performance by Age Groups in Biological and Mechanical Cardiac Valve Replacement

A group of 1195 patients who received biological valve prostheses (mean age 57.3 years, range 8 to 85 years) and a group of 1345 patients who received mechanical heart valves (mean age 56.1 years, range 13 to 91 years) were analyzed for complications by age group (less than or equal to 54 years, 55 to 65 years, and over 65 years). The freedom from thromboembolism and anticoagulant-related hemorrhage at 8 years after aortic valve replacement was significantly higher in patients who received a biological prosthesis in all age groups. The freedom from thromboembolism and anticoagulant-related hemorrhage at 8 years after mitral valve replacement was significantly higher in patients who received a biological prosthesis in the age groups less than or equal to 54 years and over 65 years. The freedom from all valve-related complications at 5 and 8 years after aortic or mitral valve replacement showed the same trend of greater freedom from complications in biological prostheses patients compared with mechanical prostheses in most age groups. However, freedom from valve-related reoperation, mortality, and residual morbidity for aortic and mitral valve replacement for all age groups was not significantly different. These results show that biological prostheses can be considered for patients aged 55 years and older. The prostheses by age group or position at 8 years were not differentiated by valve-related reoperation, mortality, and residual morbidity. t 8 years there is a demonstrated price to pay for a presumed increase in longevity for patients with mechanical valves in the aortic position, reflected by an increase in thromboembolism and anticoagulant-related hemorrhage in all age groups.