Twelve year results with a caged-ball mitral prosthesis.

Over a 12 year period in 230 patients mitral valve replacement was performed using the model 6120 Starr-Edwards prosthesis. Operative mortality was 6.5%, mean follow-up of the operative survivors was 3.9 years. Estimated late survival rate was 80% at 5 years and 73% at 12 years. 38% of late deaths were considered valve-related. Under routine anticoagulation thromboembolism occurred at a rate of 4.7% per patient-year with a fatal thromboembolic incidence of 1.4% per patient-year. In comparison with data available on other currently used prosthetic valves it appears that the rates of valve-related complications are quite similar, with the 6120 Starr-Edwards model being subject to the longest follow-up