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How long will my mothers mechanical valve actually last?
My mother had a defective mitral valve since birth and had 4 pig valve replacements up until age 32. At this point, in 2002, she had a metal mechanical valve replacement. At the time the doctor said it will last about 20 years. Now when I look them up I see people saying they will last a lifetime. Was the 20 year quote only because they weren't sure at the time with the reletively new technology or is that an improvement over the last 10 years?
1 Answer
- gangadharan nairLv 79 years agoFavorite Answer
Mechanical -- made of man-made materials, such as metal (stainless steel or titanium) or ceramic. Most mechanical valves last for at least 20 to 30 years.These valves last the longest, but you will need to take blood-thinning medicine, such as warfarin (Coumadin) or aspirin, for the rest of your life.
Source(s): http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/00... http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/00... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_heart_valv...
