Long-Term Outcome after Valve replacement with the Omnicarbon Prosthesis
Michele di Summa MD, Giuseppe Poletti MD, Lidia Brero MD, Paolo Centofanti MD, Michele La Torre MD, Francesco Patanè MD, Jose M. Caffarena Raggio MD, Francisco García Sanchez MD, Jose M. Maroñas MD, Salvador Torregrosa MD, Francisco J. Valera MD, Jose Caffarena, Jr. MD

Intensive long-term follow up of 153 Omnicarbon valve patients accumulated 1,472 patient-years (mean follow up per patient 10.2 ± 4.4 years). Among patients, 51% (n = 78) had aortic valve replacement, 33% (n = 51) mitral valve replacement, and 16% (n = 24) both aortic and mitral valve replacement. Follow up was 99% complete (n = 151). Ten-year survival was 68 ± 4% overall, and freedom from thromboembolism 94 ± 2% and 91 ± 3% at 10 and 14 years, respectively. The median INR was 2.8 for aortic and mitral valve patients at 14 years after surgery. Acceptable long-term hemodynamics, NYHA functional class and hemolytic indicator values were obtained. Low complication rates were observed, and the patients¹ long-term overall quality of life exceeded expectation.