Long-term follow-up after implantation of the Shelhigh(R) No-React(R) complete biological aortic valved conduit [ADULT CARDIAC]

CONCLUSIONS The Shelhigh® No-React® aortic valved conduit showed satisfactory short-term operative results. However, the long-term follow-up revealed a relatively high rate of deaths, which may be explained by the epidemiology of the patient group, but a substantial proportion of deaths could not be clarified. The overall rate of reoperation (8.6%) during the mid-term follow-up is worrisome and the failures due to aortoventricular disconnection, endocarditis and pseudoaneurysm formation remain unexplained. The redo-procedures were technically demanding. We recommend close follow-up of patients with the Shelhigh® No-React® aortic valved conduit, because besides classical structural valve degeneration, unexpected findings may be observed.

http://ejcts.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/50/1/98?rss=1

Source: European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery - June 19, 2016 Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Reineke, D. C., Kaya, A., Heinisch, P. P., Oezdemir, B., Winkler, B., Huber, C., Heijmen, R. H., Morshuis, W., Carrel, T. P., Englberger, L. Tags: Basic research vascular ADULT CARDIAC Source Type: research