In vivo short-term doppler hemodynamic profiles of 189 carpentier-edwards perimount pericardial bioprosthetic valves in the mitral position

We sought to determine the hemodynamic performance of the Carpentier-Edwards Perimount pericardial valve in the mitral position. We reviewed the Doppler echocardiographic data on 189 patients (110 women; 68 ± 12 years of age) who were implanted with this valve (7.6 days ± 13 postoperatively) at our institution between September 2000 and May 2002. The average ejection fraction was 47%. For all valves, the peak velocity was 1.9 ± 0.3 m/s, peak gradient was 15 ± 4.8 mm Hg, and mean gradient was 5.8 ± 2 mm Hg. The pressure half-time was 93 ± 24 milliseconds, with a calculated effective orifice area of 2.5 ± 0.6 cm². The average effective orifice area by continuity equation (83 valves) was 1.5 ± 0.5 cm². The mitral regurgitation was graded mild or less in 97.5% of all valves. This is the largest series establishing the favorable hemodynamic behavior of the different sizes of a new Perimount mitral valve, and the reported data could serve as a reference.