Mechanical valves last for the lifetime of the patient, but lifelong anticoagulation (warfarin) is required (with associated risks). Tissue valve fail after 10-15 years (due to calcification/degeneration; even faster in young patients) but require no anticoagulation. More detailed information can be found in our paper "Prosthetic heart valves: catering for the few " that you can download from my RG publications page. Regards. Deon
You may wish to read these RG available publications:
1. Scotten LN, Siegel R. Are anticoagulant independent mechanical valves within reach-fast prototype fabrication and in vitro testing of innovative bi-leaflet valve models. Ann Transl Med 2015;3(14):197-206.
2. Scotten LN, Siegel R. Thrombogenic potential of transcatheter aortic valve implantation with trivial paravalvular leakage. Ann Transl Med 2014;2:43-53
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