Very long-term outcomes of the Carpentier-Edwards Perimount valve in aortic position

Abstract

Background: The Carpentier-Edwards Perimount pericardial bioprosthesis (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) has demonstrated good long-term outcomes, but its durability remains unclear depending on age at implantation. We report our 20-year experience with the Perimount valve implanted in the aortic position, with particular attention to the probability and time to reoperation required due to bioprosthesis deterioration.

Methods: From 1984 to 2008 at our center, 2,659 patients (mean age, 70.7 ± 10.4 years) underwent aortic valve replacement using the Perimount pericardial bioprostheses. Patients were prospectively followed on an annual basis (mean 6.7 ± 4.8 years, range 0 to 24.6 years) with an echocardiogram at the time of follow-up. Cumulative follow-up was 18,404 valve-years. Bioprosthesis structural valve deterioration was determined by strict echocardiographic assessment.

Results: Overall operative mortality was 2.8%. Actuarial survival rates including early deaths averaged 52.4% ± 1.2%, 31.1% ± 1.4%, and 14.4% ± 1.7% after 10, 15, and 20 years of follow-up, respectively. Age-stratified freedom from reoperation due to structural valve deterioration at 15 and 20 years was 70.8% ± 4.1% and 38.1% ± 5.6%, respectively, for the group aged 60 years or less, 82.7% ± 2.9% and 59.6% ± 7.6% for those 60 to 70 years, and 98.1% ± 0.8% at 15 years and above for the oldest group. Expected valve durability is 19.7 years for the entire cohort.

Conclusions: With a low rate of valve-related events at 20 years, and particularly a low rate of structural valve deterioration, the Carpentier-Edwards Perimount pericardial bioprosthesis remains a reliable choice for a tissue valve in the aortic position, especially in patients over 60 years of age.