Abstract

Review of the 74 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with a Starr–Edwards ball-valve prosthesis between October 1963 and December 1967 showed that 16 died during surgery or within the first month after operation, usually owing to myocardial failure; and there were nine late deaths. The remaining patients developed few major complications, and the long-term results of operation are considered satisfactory, no patient being grossly incapacitated and most of them are leading active, symptom-free lives.