replacing mechanical with tissue valve

would  a heart surgeon switch, in a redo operation, a properly functioning aortic
mechanical valve with a tissue
valve because the patient desperately wanted to be off anticoagulants-(coumadin)?

[laujac]

I had OHS in 1986 (age 35)...St Jude mechanical valve. Coumadin is horrible...can't get INR's regulated for any length of time. Now I have to have the valve replaced (calcium buildup) and an aortic valve aneursym repaired. So thinking of going with a tissue valve. I can't really decide if I want to have a third redo in 10-15 years because of the failure of the tissue valve. I am now 62 so still young enough to have a possible redo....have to tmake a decison before Feb. 7...still on the fence.

[leo923]

i would go tissue. you could have percutaneous valve w/n a valve when  it wears out. already doing it in germany.  am fixing to try to have reop- have my mechanical valve replaced w/tissue. coumadin side effects, the restrictions to my lifestyle, the stress of coumadin, and the loudness of the valve are all the reasons. st jude's is the loudest mechanical valve on the market. i can be heard from 2 ft away! i chose the wrong valve and my surgeon did not suggest a valve type. how did you make it so long on mechanical valve? just the loudness of the valve alone can cause employment discrimination, my mechanical valve is greatly screwing up my life i pray  i survive the reop (10-15% death;20% complications) valve choice these days are 70% tissue and 30% mechanical, and probably the mechanical choices are due to the mitral valve, which they almost always say should be mechanical