Mitral valve

[Mossy65]

Hi, can someone please answer this question. I have been told that if I have my mitral valve replaced they will have to use a mechanical and not a tissue valve. I dont know why. Thanks. Graham.

[Hanibil]

Hi I was told a mechanical valve would be far better for me due to my age I was 48. As a mechanical valve would last a life time and a tissue valve would only last around ten years, reading some of the posts on here it seems the doctors were right. That was back in 2005 and it’s turned out to be best decision I have ever made, recent tests show the valve is working fine. I take warfarin every day and that has presented absolutely no problems whatsoever.

[Etzel]

I'm due to have mitral and aortic replaced and i'm sure they said mechanical was better as mitral takes more of a beating than aortic.

[Dimelza66]

I am 57 and will have my mitral valve replaced soon. I was told the same, at my age a mechanical valve is best. I will take warfarin. The tissue valve won't last me out, but hopefully the mechanical valve will last me out. How old are you?

[Mossy65 in reply to Dimelza66]

I'm 59. Yes I understand what you are telling me. Can you hear the valve ? Do you get used to it?

[Mitchum in reply to Mossy65]

I have had a mechanical mitral valve for 21 years approximately. If you have ANY specific questions, you are quite welcome to PM me anytime!

[Traveldreams]

I’m 55 and was given the choice by my surgeon. He told me that NICE practice was to give mechanical under 50 and tissue over 65 but up to the patient in between. I had opted for mechanical as couldn’t tolerate the idea of another op in ten years time. They managed to repair my mitral valve so it wasn’t actually an issue.

[Samsoncat]

I had a mechanical MVR last year. I was 51. I was given a choice mechanical or bioprosthetic. One doctor even encouraged me to consider bio, as possible future medical advances of new material and TMVR instead of open heart is the way forward. I didn't feel right about this. Not because I didn't understand the doctor, but mechanical is tried and tested and is recommended by both American and European society of cardiology <65. Perhaps there will be a breakthrough in the future with mitral valve replacement that betters mechanical with life long warfarin. However, i didn't want to gamble my life and health on future uncertainties. I'll also trade Warfarin and no skiing for not returning to surgery again in 10 years. I do hear my mechanical valve, but got used to it and most of the time i don't notice it. One quiet afternoon when i was at my brothers, he stressed out hearing dripping and thinking he had a water leak in the house. I played along for a bit recommending plumbers knowing all the time it was my heart valve ticking.