Bovine pericardial versus porcine stented replacement aortic valves: early results of a randomized comparison of the Perimount and the Mosaic valves.

OBJECTIVE: A stented bovine pericardial valve might be less obstructive than a stented porcine valve. This study compared early hemodynamic function in a prospective series of 99 patients randomized to receive either a Mosaic or Perimount replacement aortic valve.

METHODS: Echocardiography was performed early after surgery and at 1 year after surgery. Patients also filled in psychologic questionnaires and underwent a 6-minute walk.

RESULTS: The groups were matched demographically. The Perimount valve was significantly less obstructive in terms of mean pressure difference (11 +/- 5 vs 17 +/- 7 mm Hg; P < .0001), with a trend in favor of a larger effective orifice area (1.47 +/- 0.45 vs 1.28 +/- 0.46 cm(2); P = .05) postoperatively. There were no differences in left ventricular mass regression, aortic regurgitation, 6-minute walk, psychologic questionnaires, or mortality and clinical events.

CONCLUSION: The stented bovine pericardial valve was less obstructive than the stented porcine valve. Both valves were associated with similar and significant improvements in quality of life, exercise ability, and regression of left ventricular mass.