A Survey on Mechanical Prosthetic Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Rajaie Cardiovascular, Medical, and Research Center:7 Years’ Experience

Background: The present study aimed to assess the postoperative consequences and clinical course after mechanical prosthetic pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) in patients candidated for this procedure. Methods: In a retrospective study, by referring and reviewing surgical reports at Rajaie Cardiovascular, Medical, and Research Center, between 2006 and 2013, patients’ characteristics were assessed. Eligible patients were those who underwent PVR because of significant pulmonary insufficiency, and postoperative consequences and clinical courses were assessed retrospectively. Results: In total, 415 patients underwent PVR. The most common underlying etiology was tetralogy of Fallot, with a prevalence of 88.9%, followed by concomitant pulmonary stenosis, with a prevalence of 11.1%. Only 1.5% of the patients had malfunction in their mechanical prostheses. During the follow-up, no death was reported. Regarding the clinical course of the disease after surgery, 3.1% of the patients suffered hemorrhagic events. None of the patients developed thromboembolic events. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year hemorrhagic-free survival rates were 98.9%, 98.4%, and 97.2%, respectively. Conclusions: Regardless of the occurrence of postprocedural malfunction, PVR had an appropriate midterm outcome with rare mortality and morbidity among our study population. Our study showed that an appropriate anticoagulation support was able to confer a proper outcome visà- vis thromboembolic or hemorrhagic events.