Latest Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Prosthetic Aortic Valve Choice

[Silver Bullet]

Here's the PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26794881

The investigators found no difference in survival, stroke, and endocarditis between patients with mechanical or bioprosthetic vales. As expected, MV patients had higher rates of thromboembolism while patients with BVs had higher rates of re-operation.

Importantly, this was not a meta analysis of randomized trials. Retrospective studies were included, so there is considerable room for bias to have affected the results.

A randomized trial, particularly in 40 year olds with long follow up seems badly needed.

 

[skeptic49]

"This systematic review supports the use of bioprosthetic valves in patients younger than the current recommendation of 65 years." - Interesting