The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 54, 283-285, Copyright © 1992 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Long-term results of the Ivalon baffle mitral valve repair
JA Odell, JO Schurek, CN Barnard and PJ Commerford
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, South Africa.
In the evolution of mitral valve surgery, Ivalon sponge was sutured to the
posterior leaflet of the mitral valve to obtain competency. Between August
1959 and October 1962, 18 patients had this procedure. All patients were
discharged home. Three patients were lost to follow-up 5 to 10 years after
operation. Valve replacement was necessary in 7 patients 10.4 +/- 8.5 years
after repair. Bacterial endocarditis causing late death occurred in 5
patients within 4 years. Five embolic episodes occurred. The estimated
probability of survival and need for valve replacement at 28 years were
29.2% +/- 12.3% and 12.4% +/- 6.7%, respectively.