Welder identity, weld date, and the risk of outlet strut fracture in Björk-Shiley convexo-concave valves: the Dutch cohort study

OBJECTIVE: To establish whether there is an association between subsequent fracture of the outlet strut and welder identity and the weld date of Björk-Shiley convexo-concave (BScc) valves. DESIGN: Cohort study. PATIENTS: All Dutch BScc valve recipients (n = 2266). MEAN OUTCOME MEASURES: Documented o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Heart (British Cardiac Society) 1996-12, Vol.76 (6), p.510-512
Main Authors: Kallewaard, M., Algra, A., van der Graaf, Y.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cohort Studies
Follow-Up Studies
Heart Valve Prosthesis
Humans
Medical sciences
Netherlands
Prosthesis Failure
Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
Surgery of the heart
Welding
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Summary:OBJECTIVE: To establish whether there is an association between subsequent fracture of the outlet strut and welder identity and the weld date of Björk-Shiley convexo-concave (BScc) valves. DESIGN: Cohort study. PATIENTS: All Dutch BScc valve recipients (n = 2266). MEAN OUTCOME MEASURES: Documented outlet strut fracture during follow up. RESULTS: Weld dates were known for 97.0% of all BScc valves (n = 2534) implanted in Dutch patients (n = 2266) and welder identity was known for 52.2%. During a mean follow up of 9.4 years, 46 fractures were documented. For 60 degrees valves welded from 1981 to 1984 the fracture rate (0.22 per 100 person-years (95% CI 0.13 to 0.34)) was higher than that for valves welded before 1981 (0.04 (95% CI 0.01-0.10)). When all fracture related risk factors were taken into account, fracture rates per welder did not show any statistically significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Welder identity does not contribute to the risk of strut fracture. Other factors in the production of BScc valves may explain the increased risk for valves welded from 1981 to 1984.
ISSN:1355-6037
1468-201X
DOI:10.1136/hrt.76.6.510