Mitral valves

Posted By Tom on March 29, 1998 at 15:46:30:







I am going to have surgery performed for a my mitral valve and I am leaning
toward a pig mitral valve if my natural valve cannot be repaired. I know
that the pig valves last only 8 to 10 years. During those 8 to 10 years,
do they work as well as the mechanical valve, or do they begin to leak
very soon, say, in year 3 or 4?
Also, is a better, more durable tissue mitral valve that doesn't
require lifelong coumidin on the horizon (much like the aortic valve that
was approved by the FDA in 1996?), and if so, can there be any specuation
about when it will become available?
Finally, is there really a minimally invasive method of valve replace-
ment, and how is such a major operation performed without full invasive
procedure?
Thank you very much.