Hemodynamic characteristics of the composite strut ball valve prostheses (Starr-Edwards track valves) in patients on anticoagulants.

The hemodynamic characteristics of the composite strut ball valve prostheses (Starr-Edwards Model 2400 aortic track valve and Model 6400 mitral track valve) were evaluated in anticoagulated patients. The peak systolic gradient (mean +/- SE) for the aortic valve in 16 patients was 18.1 +/- 3.9 mm Hg; the mean gradient was 17.0 +/- 2.7 mm Hg; the prosthetic valve area was 1.7 +/- 0.1 cm2; and the valve area index was 1.0 +/- 0.1 cm2/m2. In the 19 patients with the mitral valve, the mean diastolic gradient (mean +/- SE) was 5.2 +/- 0.7 mm Hg. The prosthetic valve area was 2.0 +/- 0.1 cm2, and the valve area index was 1.3 +/- 0.1 cm2/m2. These hemodynamic parameters are helpful in evaluating the catheterization findings in patients with composite strut prosthetic valves who are suspected of having prosthesis dysfunction. They also demonstrate the satisfactory in vivo hemodynamics in anticoagulated patients with these prostheses.