Thirty years survival after double valve replacement with Starr-Edwards prostheses in aortic and mitral position

We report about a patient who underwent double valve replacement with two Starr-Edwards prostheses in aortic and mitral position 30 years ago. Under anticoagulation medication he survived 28 years without any valve-related events. In the 29th year he sustained a cerebral infarction from which he recovered, having only a residual left arm paresis. His NYHA functional class today is II-III. Chest X-ray shows a mildly enlarged configuration of the heart, echocardiography reveals no irregularities of the implanted prostheses. We conclude, that the Starr-Edwards valve presents an outstanding standard concerning durability in mechanical valve replacement. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.