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Hi Tracy, have you tried looking at PubMed? It is a library of good research. Also, be aware that events are moving rapidly in cardiology. My own belief is that bioprosthetic organs will be commonplace in ten years so I would not worry about looking too far ahead. It may be more important to consider lifestyle choices that keep you generally healthy and free from infection, something that is highlighted constantly in the medical literature. All the best.

Hi Tracey. I was in the same boat as you when I had to choose which heart valve was willing to get. I was a 47 year old fireFighter/Paramedic and had a bicuspid aortic valve, though I was totally Asymptomatic and they found it after an on the job injury. I chose the On-X valve as I first of all didn’t want to be opened up in the first place, let alone have to have at least a 2nd surgery down the road as I was very young. I’m dealing with Warfarin just fine and it has been 16 years now and I’m still clicking along with no issues, other than a random bruise here and there when I get really active or crazy 🤪.



 Oh and I know I have a heart as I was a “special” patient and they filmed my surgery so I have a DVD of it! 



Good luck and God’s speed as I’m sure you’ll do just fine.. 

Hi Tracey! I had an aortic valve replacement June 23 with a pig valve and had a very quick and easy recovery and I feel great. My wife had a mechanical valve about 11 years ago and has not had such an easy time of it; however her surgery was much more complicated. She has been on coumadin all these years and that has taken quite a toll all by itself. If I had a choice I would go with a biologic valve. I hope you have the kind of recovery that I had. Best Wishes.  Dr. Larry Nixon

Hey Tracey, I opted for mechanical in 2020 for a simple reason. If you do the flesh valve, it will deteriorate. So, ask your doc.what they will do? If the answer is cage in cage new valve, will you be on blood thinners after that anyway? I opted not to chance that. The more times u are under anesthesia, the worse. Things to consider. 

I had my aortic valve replaced with a St. Jude's mechanical valve, which was the gold standard valve at the time.  I was 42 years old when I had the surgery, and I am 72 years old now.  My valve is still working very well.  I had my surgery at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital.  Lawrence Cohn was my surgeon.  He has since passed away, but at the time, he was the best surgeon in the Boston area.  Other doctors called him, "Dr. Valve" because he was so good.  I have had very few complications from taking warfarin.  I test at home and report results electronically.  I can manage my own dosing, but that came with practice.  Best of luck with your surgery.  I am sure technology is so much better than it was 30 years ago.  

I decided on an On-x valve in 2021. I ended up having a una cuspid valve, aneurysm and changed my aortic stem. On warafin and my level has stayed normal all this time so far. I have no problems with the warafin. Felt the same way hopefully lasts my lifetime, I was 63, definitely do not want to do the surgery again. Good luck with whatever you decide.

G'day Tracey.. calling from South Australia.. i have had mechanical valves for many years. The reason was because I was young enough to enjoy a lot more life. there is of course the rules I learned to live by taking blood thinners, but its far better than facing another sooner operation to replace a flesh valve. Best of Luck and start planning for the rest of your long life:) cheers mate, Lyn 

Hi Tracy. I received my St. Jude aortic mechanical valve in 2018 by recommendation of my surgeon, Lars Svensson, from Cleveland Clinic at the age of 58. I am with the understanding that a bovine valve can only be replaced so many times and has a lifespan of anywhere from 5 to 20 years where the mechanical valves can last many many years so as you said, it can be a one time surgery. I am on warfrin and doing well. Sometimes my levels go up and down and it’s no problem for me to just go get it checked again. Not a big deal. Yes, we have to watch her diet, but you get used to it. Every time you have a heart procedure, you are at risk and as we get older, the recovery can be more difficult so I do not regret my decision with the help of Dr. Svensson. Good luck to you for making the decision that’s right for you.

Tracy I had a my aortic valve replaced with a ON-x valve about two years ago and everything has gone smoothly.   My doctor told me that this was the only fave that he used at that time.  Best of luck with your journey

Hi Tracy. I was 54 years old when I had my bicuspid aortic valve replaced in October of 2023 with a On-x mechanical valve. I had my surgery at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City by Sr. Gibson. My surgery went very well.  No complications.  I feel very good and back to normal. I'm  onlychecking my INR about once a month since I have have it at the right dosage . I hope everything goes well for you.

I had severe mitral valve regurgitation and chose to have a mechanical valve instead of a pig valve. My reasons were that I didn't want to go through open heart surgery again and pig valves can fail. I would make the same decision today that I made 4 years ago. The only negatives are that I am on warfarin (coumadin) and need to check my INR at home every 1-2 weeks (very easy) and there are foods that I have to be careful about eating too much of and some meds that I must avoid (such as anti-inflammatories), but I don't consider doing those things burdensome. Before deciding I recommend carefully reading about warfarin to make sure you are okay with the restrictions. Good luck to you. 









 

Tracey, I had bicuspid aortic valve diagnosed when I was 23. Repaired at Cleveland Clinic 1999 at age 48. Replaced with tissue valve in Feb 2013 at age 63, 11 plus years ago at Penn in Philly.   It’s fine and still ticking. 73 now.  Have not had a valve problem since, so…..expect  a TVR if ever need it. Be well, be happy. Any questions, reach out !!!

Hi Tracey! I can't comment for some reason on your question. My mom had an aortic valve replacement by Dr Shah at Brigham by TAVR. But it was a tissue valve. I would want to know WHY they said it had to be OHS. She had to have a special CT to determine if her vessels were big enough to do by TAVR. And I don't know if that only applies to tissue valves. So could be mechanical can't be a TAVR.

I had my mitral valve replaced by OHS (I'm in NY) at 54 but I also needed a septal myectomy so I had no choice. I'm praying they can do the next replacement by catheter because I now regret the tissue valve decision. I don't want a second OHS. At the time I was concerned with long-term coumadin and that some folks can hear the clicking of the mechanical valve. 


Best of luck to you!

Hey hey!! I actually just had an open heart valve replacement June 18th. My surgeon was Dr. Leonard Lee in NJ….he is absolutely AMAZING. Great bedside manner, and just such a wonderful skill set…HIGHLY recommend him! He replaced my mitral valve with a St. Jude mechanical valve. I cannot even begin to explain to you how incredible I feel. I also had severe symptoms prior to surgery….other than some pain right after surgery, this has been the most life changing experience I’ve ever been through. I’m 39, and I chose the mechanical valve because I don’t want to continue to have the surgery every 10ish years and because of my age, my surgeons recommendation was the mechanical valve. I couldn’t be happier with it. It took about 1 month after leaving the hospital for my INR to get right, but it’s 3.2 now (my range is 2.5 to 3.5) and I haven’t had a single problem. I literally feel AMAZING! I think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised at just how life changing - in a good way - this surgery is going to be!! 1 week after surgery I was already doing more than I could prior to surgery, and it’s just gotten better and better!!! I’m here if you have any questions! I wish you all the best!!!