Background: This study evaluated the early and intermediate-term clinical and hemodynamic results after implant of the Medtronic 3F (Minneapolis, MN) stentless aortic valve.
Methods: Between March 2007 and August 2015, 226 consecutive patients affected by aortic valve disease received a 3F valve at our unit by a single surgeon. The valve in 30 patients was included in a tubular prosthesis for a Bentall procedure. Size ranged between 21 and 29, age at operation was 74.17 ± 8.58 years, mean logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation was 9.73 ± 6.00, and 51.3% of patients received a concomitant procedure. For isolated valve replacement, mean extracorporeal circulation time was 92 ± 17 minutes, and cross-clamp time was 73 ± 11 minutes. Follow-up was 100% complete and was a mean of 63 ± 2.4 months (range, 6-138 months). Primary end points were early and late mortality, freedom from endocarditis, freedom from structural valve deterioration, and freedom from valve-related reoperation.
Results: Early mortality after isolated aortic valve replacement was 1.7%. Of the 59 (25.3%) late overall deaths, 15 (6.6%) were cardiac-related, and survival rate was 93% at 10 years. At follow-up, 97% of patients were in New York Heart Association class I or II. Actuarial freedom from reoperation due to structural deterioration was 100% at 5 years and 96% at 10 years. Freedom from endocarditis at 10 years was 97%. Mean aortic pressure gradient measured by echocardiography was 11.5 mm Hg at hospital discharge and 10.4 mm Hg at the last follow-up.
Conclusions: The 3F valve is a user-friendly third-generation stentless aortic prosthesis with proven durability and remarkable hemodynamic performance preserved over time. The 3F is particularly useful in cases of expected patient/prosthesis mismatch.
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