St Jude Mechanical Valve

[wlc001]

I have a St Jude Mechanical Valve.  Implanted in 2003.  I was 37 at the time.  How long do mechanical valves usually last.  I know that it can differ, I understand that, but I just wonder if I may have to repeat this surgery.  Will it last 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, what is about the average is all is going well?

[wildcat27]

from what I understand mechanical valves have the advantage of lasting a lifetime in theory...but with a mechanical valve the recipient has to take a blood thinner for life as well.

hope this helps.

[njean]

Hello there -- well being a 3-time Open-Heart patient myself with a mechanical aortic & mitral valves, I think I can answer most of your questions and hopefully soothe your fears.

I had my first surgeries 32 years ago, 1975 in Houston, St. Luke's Hospital.  I was only 24 yrs. old at the time; I'm 56 now.  Dr. Cooley implanted a mechanical aortic & mitral Cooley-Cutter valves.  Those valves according to what I was told then, were suppose to last about 10-15 yrs.   But for 31 years, I lived an active & full life with no limitations whatsoever.  I've been on coumadin or warfarin all these years because you have to be on blood thinners when you have mechanical valves.

Last year, March/2006, I started showing signs of CHF & was told that my valves were showing extreme pressures & that I had to return to Houston for what was my 3rd Open-Heart to replace the valves.  The surgeons in Houston replaced the aortic valve with a "St. Jude".  At the time they went in the mitral valve was working okay so they did not replace it.  But there is a chance I might have to undergo surgery for the 4th time to replace the old mitral valve.  For the time being though, I'm glad to be alive and appreciating every day that the Lord gives me!

So my friend, take your medications the way the doctors prescribed them, follow a low-sodium, low fat diet as much as you can & enjoy your life!  Don't worry about how long the valve will last.  Concentrate instead on life and living it to the fullest!  Take care & if I can offer any more advice, please ask me.  God Bless, njp