Outcomes during index hospital stay for valve size and type, and for valve function and regurgitation to 6 weeks by group
| Valve characteristics | Mini- sternotomy group (n=135) | Conventional sternotomy group (n=135) | Mean difference (95% CI; p value) |
| Valve size: mm | |||
| 19–21 mm n (%) | 40 (29.6) | 38 (28.1) | |
| 23–25 mm n (%) | 84 (62.2) | 80 (59.3) | |
| 27–29 mm n (%) | 11 (8.2) | 17 (12.6) | |
| Mean±SD | 23.1±2.1 | 23.6±2.5 | |
| Range (min–max) | 19.0–29.0 | 19.0–31.0 | |
| Valve type: n (%) | |||
| Biological and sutureless | 4 (3.0) | 3 (2.2) | |
| Biological prosthesis | 96 (71.1) | 98 (72.6) | |
| Mechanical prosthesis | 35 (25.9) | 34 (25.2) | |
| Valve function | |||
| Mean gradient | |||
| Baseline | |||
| n | 111* | 110* | |
| Mean±SD | 47.9±15.7 | 47.7±20.2 | 0.2 (−4.6 to 5.0) |
| Min–max | 10–93 | 8–110 | |
| 6 weeks | |||
| n | 120* | 126* | |
| Mean±SD | 15.7±5.5 | 15.7±5.8 | 0.5†(−1.0 to 2.1) |
| Min–max | 6–33 | 4–34 | |
| Peak gradient | |||
| Baseline | |||
| n | 125* | 124* | |
| Mean±SD | 82.3±25.9 | 77.1±29.1 | 5.2 (−1.7 to 2.3) |
| Min–max | 16–152 | 8–173 | |
| 6 weeks | |||
| n | 130* | 130* | |
| Mean±SD | 29.9±10.5 | 29.7±10.8 | −0.3† (−2.9 to 2.3) |
| Min–max | 12–62 | 11–61 | |
| Aortic valve regurgitation | |||
| Nil/trivial | |||
| n/n (%) | 109/134* (81.3) | 109/130* (83.8) | 218/264 (82.6) |
| Mild | |||
| n/n (%) | 19/134* (14.2) | 18/130* (13.9) | 37/264 (14.0) |
| Moderate | |||
| n/n (%) | 5/134* (3.7) | 2/130* (1.5) | 7/264 (2.7) |
| Severe | |||
| n/n (%) | 1/134* (0.8) | 1/130* (0.8) | 2/264 (0.8) |
*It was not possible to quantify valve function in all patients.
†After adjusting for randomisation factors and baseline data.