Aortic Porcine valvelimitations

[hedgerow2]

Is there limits to the workings of a porcine aortic valve. All I can find is 10 to 15 years but what about the beats per minute and could a racing cyclist for instance expect 10 years wear, there are lots in their 70s and beyond that still race in the UK and elsewhere? Are there living examples about?

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! Porcine and bovine valves do not wear out as such but tend to calcify. This tends to occur in the time span you mention and maps very much to the lifespan of the donor animal. A raised pulse during exercise/cycling will not wear it out but an inappropriate lifestyle and not taking prescribed medication will increase calcification. The latest specially treated bovine valves have a predicted life expectancy of 25 years but this will not be fully confirmed for a long time yet.

Do you mind saying something about your relationship to this as it may help responders.