Dynamics of the phonocardiographic picture following the bioprosthesis of the mitral valve

: Patterns of phonocardiographic changes were studied in 67 patients (aged 20 to 51 years) with acquired mitral disease 2 months to 6 years after the implantation of aortic xenobioprostheses, preserved in glutaraldehyde and mounted on a hard or flexible support. Phonocardiographic findings were compared with intracardiac hemodynamic data. Three stages and three types of phonocardiographic pattern were identified in patients with normally functioning xenobiovalves. As the postoperative period grew longer, the patients showed progressively smaller amplitudes of tones I and II, a smaller, if any, systolic output murmur and diastolic murmur; some patients no longer exhibited the prosthetic opening tone. PCG parameters showed stability between 2 and 6 years of follow-up.