Evaluation of paravalvular leakage and embolic risks associated with St. Jude Silzone mechanical heart valves

OBJECTIVES
Paravalvular leakage and embolic events associated with St. Jude Silzone mechanical heart valves were retrospectively assessed.

STUDY DESIGN
The study included 28 consecutive patients (17 males, 11 females; mean age 47±17 years; range 10 to 79 years) in whom St. Jude silzone-coated heart valves were implanted. Four patients received aortic, four patients received mitral, and 20 patients received both mitral and aortic valvular mechanical heart valves. Among those with aortic valve replacement, one patient underwent supracoronary graft implantation, one patient underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, and one patient underwent surgery due to tetralogy of Fallot and a previous Waterson shunt operation. Paravalvular leakage was assessed with transthoracic echocardiography in the third and sixth postoperative months, and major embolic events were clinically assessed in the early and late period. The mean follow-up was 70 months (range 64 to 89 months).

RESULTS
Paravalvular leakage did not occur postoperatively, and mortality was not observed in the early postoperative period. No major embolic events were recorded in the early and late periods.

CONCLUSION
Our results demonstrate that valvular replacement with St. Jude Silzone-coated mechanical heart valves does not contribute to early paravalvular leakage and major embolic events.