The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Dec 1978
Comparative StudyNon--cloth-covered caged-ball prostheses. The second decade.
The Starr-Edwards Models 6120 mitral and 1200/60 aortic valves are caged-ball prostheses with cloth-covered sewing rings and bare-metal struts. Introduced in 1965, they have been in continuous clinical use longer than any other currently available heart valve prostheses. Late results with this valve are analyzed and compared with recent series employing other current valve prostheses. ⋯ There was one anticoagulant-related death in 1,698 patient-years of follow-up. The current non--cloth-covered caged-ball valves provide unquestionable durability and well-documented results into their second decade of use. They provide a base line for comparison with newer prostheses and offer a valid, current choice for both aortic and mitral valve replacement.