Outcomes following bioprosthetic valve replacement in prior non-cardiac transplant recipients

Abstract

Background: We report on overall survival and valve-related outcomes after bioprosthetic valve replacement in prior transplant recipients.

Methods: From January 2004 to December 2018, 20 consecutive patients (mean age 65.7-years, 90% male) with prior non-cardiac transplantation underwent bioprosthetic aortic (n = 18) or combined aortic and mitral (n = 2) valve replacement. Patients consisted of kidney (n = 14), lung (n = 2), liver (n = 3), and bone-marrow (n = 2) transplants with the most common indication for valve replacement being calcific degeneration (n = 12). Outcomes were measured over a 12-year span, with a median follow-up duration of 3.9 years.

Results: Overall survival at 30 days was 100% and at median follow-up was 60%. Acute kidney injury occurred in 50% (n = 10) with temporary dialysis required in 5% (n = 1) and 15% (n = 3) suffered respiratory failure. No patients experienced major bleeding, heart failure, or sternal wound infection. No patients required redo valve replacement during the study period.

Conclusions: Our results provide contemporary data demonstrating that patients with prior transplant can undergo bioprosthetic valve replacement with acceptable inhospital mortality rates and long-term survival, with a low rate of major morbidity. Furthermore, bioprosthetic valve replacement is a viable option in this group of patients with no redo valve replacement and acceptable long-term hemodynamic valvular function.

Keywords: transplantation; xenograft valve replacement.