Korean J Pediatr.  2016 Nov;59(11):446-450. 10.3345/kjp.2016.59.11.446.

Impact of postoperative duration of Aspirin use on longevity of bioprosthetic pulmonary valve in patients who underwent congenital heart disease repair

• Hwang TW
• Kim SO
• Lee SY
• Kim SH
• Choi EY
• Jang SI
• Park SJ
• Kwon HW
• Lim HB
• Lee CH
• Choi ES

• KMID: 2358025
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2016.59.11.446

Abstract

PURPOSE
Generally, aspirin is used as a protective agent against thrombogenic phenomenon after pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) using a bioprosthetic valve. However, the appropriate duration of aspirin use is unclear. We analyzed the impact of postoperative duration of aspirin use on the longevity of bioprosthetic pulmonary valves in patients who underwent repair for congenital heart diseases.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 137 patients who underwent PVR using a bioprosthetic valve between January 2000 and December 2003. Among these patients, 89 were included in our study and divided into groups I (≤12 months) and II (>12 months) according to duration of aspirin use. We analyzed echocardiographic data from 9 to 11 years after PVR. Pulmonary vale stenosis and regurgitation were classified as mild, moderate, or severe.
RESULTS
The 89 patients consisted of 53 males and 36 females. Their mean age was 14.3±8.9 years (range, 2.6-48 years) and body weight was 37.6±14.7 kg (range, 14-72 kg). The postoperative duration of aspirin use was 7.3±2.9 months in group I and 32.8±28.4 months in group II. However, no significant difference in sex ratio, age, body weight, type of bioprosthetic valve, and number of early redo-PVRs. In the comparison of echocardiographic data about 10 years later, no significant difference in pulmonary valve function was found. The overall freedom rate from redo-PVR at 10 years showed no significant difference (P=0.498).
CONCLUSION
Our results indicated no benefit from long-term aspirin medication (>6 months) in patients who underwent PVR with a bioprosthetic valve.

Keyword

Pulmonary valve replacement; Aspirin; Congenital heart disease

MeSH Terms

Aspirin*
Body Weight
Constriction, Pathologic
Echocardiography
Female
Freedom
Heart Defects, Congenital*
Heart Diseases
Humans
Longevity*
Male
Pulmonary Valve*
Retrospective Studies
Sex Ratio
Aspirin