Excellent durability of starr-edwards ball valves implanted in the aortic and mitral positions for 27 years: Report of a rare surgical case

摘要

A 59-year-old male who had undergone aortic and mitral valve replacement with Starr- Edwards ball valves 27 years ago was admitted to our hospital for hemolytic anemia and heart failure. Echocardiography revealed prosthetic valve failure with a high-pressure gradient and small effective orifice area. The Starr-Edwards ball valves were successfully replaced with bileaflet mechanical valves. The explanted valves revealed no structural abnormalities. ?2012 The Editorial Committee of Annals of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. All rights reserved.