DURABILITY OF MITRAL VALVE REPLACEMENT WITH A 3 RD GENERATION BIOPROSTHESIS.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the durability of a third-generation porcine bioprosthesis (Epic® valve) in the mitral position, according to patients' age at surgery.

METHODS: A total of 482 mitral valve replacements (MVR) using the Epic® valve at a single center were included (2009-2018). Perioperative and early postoperative data were prospectively collected. A systematic follow-up was performed (99% complete, 1,609.5 patient/years, average: 3.8 ± 2.5 years). Standardized definitions of valve-related events were adopted. Age at MVR was 68.1 ± 10.4 years.

RESULTS: Operative mortality was 9.3%. The were 5 early valve-related reoperations, mainly due to recurrent infectious endocarditis. Global survival at 8.8 years was 69.5% ± 5. There were 9 SVD events during the follow-up (3 receiving reoperations, 4 TMVR valve-in-valve, and 2 medical treatment only). The freedom from SVD at 5 and 10 years was 97.4% ± 1.2 and 89.6% ± 4.4 (actuarial), and 97.8% ± 1 and 91.9% ± 3.3, respectively (competing risks). After stratification into subgroups by age at surgery (≤59: 50.8%, 60-69: 32.8%, ≥70: 16.4%) there was no significant intergroup difference in freedom from SVD (log-rank p=0.24). The overall freedom from any reintervention for SVD at 10 years was 90.5% ± 4.4 (actuarial) and 92.7% ± 3.3 (competing risks), with no intergroup difference (log-rank p=0.14). The freedom from any valve-related complication at 8.4 years was 83.2% ± 4.5 (actuarial).

CONCLUSIONS: The Epic® bioprosthesis shows good durability at 5 to 10 years in the mitral position.