Mitral valve replacement with St Jude Medical prosthesis. Incidence of thromboembolic events in 349 patients.

This study reports incidence of thromboembolic episodes in a series of 349 patients where the St Jude Medical (SJM) valve was implanted in the mitral position (252 isolated mitral, 91 mitral and aortic, 4 triple valve and 2 mitral and tricuspid valve replacements). The mean follow up was 28 months (range 6 to 57 months) which represents 784 patient-years. Overall operative mortality was 15 patients (4·3%). There were no valve-related deaths. Late post-operative prosthetic thrombosis occurred in 3 poorly anticoagulated patients (0·4% patient-years). A further 4 patients had a thromboembolic episode (0·l5% patient-years). The overall frequency of thromboembolic episodes was 0·9 events per 100 patient-years. Per- and post-operative anticoagulation methods are described. The frequency of thromboembolism was studied with respect to the performance of SJM valve analyzed by echocardiography regardless the positioning of the prosthesis in the mitral ring. Our experience indicates that the SJM valve offers an excellent alternative in the choice of mechanical valve.