Performance by Age Groups in Biological and Mechanical Cardiac Valve Replacement

A group of 1195 patients who received biological valve prostheses (mean age 57.3 years, range 8 to 85 years) and a group of 1345 patients who received mechanical heart valves (mean age 56.1 years, range 13 to 91 years) were analyzed for complications by age group (less than or equal to 54 years, 55 to 65 years, and over 65 years). The freedom from thromboembolism and anticoagulant-related hemorrhage at 8 years after aortic valve replacement was significantly higher in patients who received a biological prosthesis in all age groups. The freedom from thromboembolism and anticoagulant-related hemorrhage at 8 years after mitral valve replacement was significantly higher in patients who received a biological prosthesis in the age groups less than or equal to 54 years and over 65 years. The freedom from all valve-related complications at 5 and 8 years after aortic or mitral valve replacement showed the same trend of greater freedom from complications in biological prostheses patients compared with mechanical pr...