Concomitant mitral valve surgery with aortic valve replacement: a 21-year experience with a single mechanical prosthesis

BACKGROUND: Long-term survival for combined aortic and mitral valve replacement appears to be determined by the mitral valve prosthesis from our previous studies. This 21-year retrospective study assess long-term outcome and durability of aortic valve replacement (AVR) with either concomitant mitral valve replacement (MVR) or mitral valve repair (MVrep). We consider only a single mechanical prosthesis. METHODS: Three hundred and sixteen patients underwent double valve replacement (DVR) (n = 273) or AVR+MVrep (n = 43), in the period 1977 to 1997. Follow up of 100% was achieved via telephone questionnaire and review of patients' medical records. Actuarial analysis of long-term survival was determined by Kaplan-Meier method. The Cox regression model was used to evaluate potential predictors of mortality. RESULTS: There were seventeen cases (5.4%) of early mortality and ninety-six cases of late mortality. Fifteen-year survival was similar in both groups at 44% and 57% for DVR and AVR+MVrep respectively. There were no significant differences in valve related deaths, anticoagulation related complications, or prosthetic valve endocarditis between the groups. There were 6 cases of periprosthetic leak in the DVR group. Sex, pre-operative mitral and aortic valve pathology or previous cardiac surgery did not significantly affect outcome. CONCLUSION: The mitral valve appears to be the determinant of survival following double valve surgery and survival is not significantly influenced by mitral valve repair.