Abstract
The consecutive 35 patients underwent isolated aortic valve replacement with the low-profile model of the Ionescu-Shiley pericardial xenograft valve from 1984 to 1991. Operative mortality was 2.9%, and early survivors were followed up for a total 136.1 patient-years[Mean$\pm$SD, 4.00$\pm$2.14 years]. The linearized late mortality was 2.204% /pt-yr. Three patients required rereplacement of the valve with overall valve failure rate of 2.204% /pt-yr: two for endocarditis and one for paravalvular leak. There was no case of primary tissue failure. The linearized annual rates of complication were: thromboembolism 0.735% /pt-yr, bleeding 0.735%pt-yr, and endocarditis 2.204% /pt-yr. The actuarial survival at 8 years of follow-up was 90.4$\pm$5.3%, and the probabilities of freedom from thromboembolism and from rereplacement were 95.6$\pm$4.4% and 88.2$\pm$6.7% at 8 years respectively. Although the low profile Ionescu-Shiley pericardial valve provided favorable clinical performance comparable with the standard model up to 8 years, it needs prolonged follow-up to assess the pattern of its durability.