The Carpentier-Edwards stented supra-annular pericardial aortic valve prosthesis: clinical durability and hemodynamic performance.

There are encouraging reports of satisfactory long-term experiences with second-generation stent-mounted glutaraldehyde-fixed pericardial aortic valve prostheses. Durability has improved, but the issue has not been completely resolved. There is disagreement whether the small sizes of these prostheses are associated with inferior outcomes. Large-scale, long-term multivariable analyses of actual clinical results are needed to complement actuarial calculations of important end points from multiple small series to improve the ability to match individual patients with prostheses that suit their needs and preferences.