Evaluation of Valve-Related Complications in Patients with Sorin Bicarbon Prosthesis: A Seven-year Experience
Uberto Bortolotti MD, Aldo Milano MD, Alessandro D’Alfonso MD, Caterina Piccin MD, Gianclaudio Mecozzi MD, Paolo Magagna MD, Alessandro Fabbri MD, Alessandro Mazzucco MD

In order to evaluate the results of aortic (AVR), mitral (MVR) and double mitral-aortic (DVR) valve replacement with the Sorin Bicarbon prosthesis, a total of 990 patients was reviewed who received 1,108 Sorin Bicarbon prostheses between 1992 and 1998 at three institutions. Overall hospital mortality was 3.7%; actuarial survival at seven years was 88 ± 2% after AVR, 86 ± 5% after MVR, and 78 ± 8% after DVR. A low incidence of valve-related deaths, valve thrombosis, embolism, bleeding events and reoperations was observed, with no cases of structural failure. Based on these results, the Sorin Bicarbon valve is considered to be reliable valve substitute when the use of a mechanical prosthesis is indicated.