A 52-Month Experience with the ST. JUDE MEDICAL® Cardiac Prosthesis at the Medical University of South Carolina

In the mid and late 1970s, the porcine heterograft became the most frequently used valvular prosthesis at the Medical University of South Carolina. This prosthesis began to be less attractive, however, as we, like many others, noted a progressive increase in failure rates due to early calcification. Because of the possibility of improved flow characteristics and of decreased thromboembolic complications, a clinical trial with the ST. JUDE MEDICAL® valve was initiated in April 1979.