HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Viking O. Björk Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Björk, V. O. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Björk, V. O.

Ann Thorac Surg 1990;50:151-154
© 1990 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Articles

Development of an artificial heart valve

^a Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
^b Desert Heart Institute Foundation, Rancho Mirage, California USA

^_* Address reprint requests to Dr Björk, c/o Frid, Runbergsy 8, 19148 Sollentuna, Sweden.

When I reviewed the 21-year results with the Björk-Shiley tilting disc valves, I found out that to date, we still have to use these disc valves and all mechanical heart valves with anticoagulation therapy. The highest incidence of valve-related postoperative deaths after aortic valve replacements in Stockholm was anticoagulation-related bleeding, which continued at a rate of about 1% year after year. There is a need to improve the quality of life for heart valve patients, especially for children, for young females who want to have children, for the older generation who are on medical treatment, and for all patients in whom long-term anticoagulation of a perfect quality is impossible to guarantee. A series of tests on goats has been performed, using the Björk-Shiley Monostrut valve used in 2,024 patients at the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm and in 75,000 patients worldwide for up to 8 years with a modification of a microporous surface. In the mitral position, this modified partially microporous-surfaced Björk-Shiley Monostrut valve has permitted goats to live for 5 years with four normal pregnancies without anticoagulation therapy.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. John, C. John, K. Saha, B. V. Velaikodeth, and E. Ravikumar A Quarter Century Experience with Mitral Valve Replacement Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals, December 1, 1996; 4(4): 201 - 205. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]