Reoperation is not an independent predictor of mortality during aortic valve surgery

The risk of mortality during aortic valve surgery is due mostly to active endocarditis, New York Heart Association class, and comorbidity. We failed to find a significant effect of reoperation on perioperative mortality. Mechanical valves, with their attendant anticoagulation-related morbidity, should not be implanted solely because of anticipated high mortality associated with bioprosthetic rereplacement.