A prospective randomized comparison of the Medtronic Advantage Supra and St Jude Medical Regent mechanical heart valves in the aortic position: is there an additional benefit of supra-annular valve positioning?
By grouping the data on the basis of a patient's tissue annulus diameter, no significant superiority of either prosthesis was detected with regard to left ventricular mass regression, effective orifice area index, and mean pressure gradient during rest and exercise. We conclude that there is no additional benefit of supraannular valve positioning.
In this community-based cohort, there was no statistically significant association seen between LTPA, OPA and shoulder pain. There was, however, an association between smoking, BMI, secondary-level education, depression and shoulder pain. These modifiable factors may be better targets for preventive efforts than LTPA to reduce the risk of shoulder pain.