Results of valve replacement with mechanical and biological prostheses in chronic renal dialysis patients

Background. Whether biological or mechanical valves should be used in patients on chronic dialysis therapy remains to be clearly defined. Methods. A retrospective review was performed on 19 consecutive patients from our institution with end-stage renal disease on chronic peritoneal or hemodialysis undergoing aortic (n = 12), mitral n = 5), or aortic-mitral (n = 2) valve replacement. Results. The 9 biological and 10 mechanical valve patients had similar ages (56.5 versus 56.6 years) and cardiovascular risk factors. The overall estimated Kaplan-Meier survival was 60% +/- 12% at 12 months and 42% +/- 14% at 60 months. Mechanical valve patients had a significantly higher rate of postoperative cerebrovascular accidents or bleeding complications (10/10 versus 0/9; X-2 17.0; p < 0.001). No subsequent reoperations were required for biological valve failure at a mean follow-up of 32 +/- 53 months. Conclusions. These results demonstrate that in patients with end-stage renal disease, use of mechanical valves is associated with significant risk of complications, whereas biological valve failure from prosthetic dysfunction is unusual. Overall survival is poor in both groups of patients. Therefore, preference should be given to biological valve instead of mechanical valve prostheses in patients on chronic renal dialysis. (C) 1997 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.