Opposite trends in coronary artery and valve surgery in a large multisurgeon practice, 1979-1999.

Background: Trends in coronary artery bypass (CAB) and valve operations (VO) may help predict the future of cardiac surgery in the context of changing case mix, shifting paradigms, emerging technology, and population demographics.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all 30,319 adult CAB and VO in our group from 1979 to 1999 according to specific procedures.

Results: Coronary artery bypass volumes peaked in 1996 at 1,895 cases, declining 15.

Replacement of the aortic valve in patients under 50 years of age: long-term follow-up of the St. Jude Medical prosthesis.

Background: Aortic valve replacement in the young adult (aged 18 to 50 years) is a choice between a mechanical prosthesis with attendant lifelong anticoagulation or biological prostheses of varying types that may have limited life expectancy in this age group.

Methods: The Cardiac Surgical Research Foundation database was accessed to determine long-term outcomes in patients having aortic valve replacement with the St. Jude Medical Valve.

Decision-making in the choice of heart valve for replacement in patients aged 60-70 years: twenty-year follow up of the St. Jude Medical aortic valve prosthesis.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The choice of a cardiac valve for patients with aortic valvular pathology remains controversial. Younger patients may be at risk for long-term complications from chronic anticoagulation yet require prosthesis longevity, while older patients may not outlive a bioprosthesis. To gather information to help decision-making, the 20-year experience of aortic valve replacement (AVR) with the St.