Volume 112, Nº 3, March 2019
DOI: http://www.dx.doi.org/10.5935/abc.20180272
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Comparison of Biological and Mechanical Prostheses for Heart Valve Surgery: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Alberto Takeshi Kiyose
Erica Aranha Suzumura
Lígia Laranjeira
Anna Maria Buehler
José Amalth Espírito Santo
Otavio Berwanger
Antonio Carlos de Camargo Carvalho
Angelo Amato de Paola
Valdir Ambrósio Moises
Alexandre Biasi Cavalcanti
Abstract
Background: The choice of a mechanical (MP) or biological prosthesis (BP) for patients with valvular heart disease undergoing replacement is still not a consensus.
Objective: We aimed to determine the clinical outcomes of MP or BP placement in those patients.
Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared biological prostheses and mechanical prostheses in patients with valvular heart diseases and assessed the outcomes. RCTs were searched in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, CENTRAL, SCOPUS and Web of Science (from inception to November 2014) databases. Meta-analyses were performed using inverse variance with random effects models. The GRADE system was used to rate the quality of the evidence. A P-value lower than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: A total of four RCTs were included in the meta-analyses (1,528 patients) with follow up ranging from 2 to 20 years. Three used old generation mechanical and biological prostheses, and one used contemporary prostheses. No significant difference in mortality was found between BP and MP patients (risk ratio (RR = 1.07; 95% CI 0.99-1.15). The risk of bleeding was significantly lower in BP patients than MP patients (RR = 0.64; 95% CI 0.52-0.78); however, reoperations were significantly more frequent in BP patients (RR = 3.60; 95% CI 2.44-5.32). There were no statistically significant differences between BP and MP patients with respect to systemic arterial embolisms and infective endocarditis (RR = 0.93; 95% CI 0.66-1.31, RR = 1.21; CI95% 0.78-1.88, respectively). Results in the trials with modern and old prostheses were similar.
Conclusions: The mortality rate and the risk of thromboembolic events and endocarditis were similar between BP and MP patients. The risk of bleeding was approximately one third lower for BP patients than for MP patients, while the risk of reoperations was more than three times higher for BP patients. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2019; 112(3):292-301)
Keywords: Heart Valve Prosthesis; Bioprosthesis; Metal-on-Metal Joint Prosthesis; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation/trends; Review.
