New 25-Year Study on Longevity of Bovine Tissue Valve Replacements… Great Job Edwards Lifesciences!
By Adam Pick on June 19, 2013
It is, by far, one of the most common questions I receive from patients who are NOT candidates for heart valve repair procedures. That question is, “How long do tissue valves last?”
As you may have seen in prior posts, several doctors in our community have commented that tissue valves can last between 10 to 15 years. That being said, Edwards Lifesciences just released some very interesting findings from a 25-year study of its PERIMOUNT valve replacement in the aortic position. So you know, the PERIMOUNT is a bovine pericardial heart valve. That means, the valve leaflets are made from the pericardium (heart sacs) of cows.
 
In this long-term study, 373 patients — who were under the age of 60 at the time of aortic valve implant — were followed to determine the longevity of the PERIMOUNT valve. The study, which ran from 1984 to 2008, determined that the actual durability of the PERIMOUNT valve replacement, in this patient segment, was not 10 years…
Not 15 years…
But, 17 years!
That incremental 2 years may not seem like a lot to you. But, consider the implications across a global population of patients. That 2 years can extend re-operative freedom for many lifetimes in patient communities (like ours) with aortic valve disorders. It’s also 2 more years without being on blood thinners — when comparing alternative therapies like mechanical valve replacements. And, it’s 2 more years that medical science can evolve and advance to develop new treatments that might create minimally invasive interventions like valve-in-valve operations using transcatheter approaches.
Again, 2 years may not seem like a lot of time. But, I think Edwards Lifesciences really deserves some applause for its efforts to continually innovate and improve its devices for patients needing valve treatment.
Upon issuing the study results, Donald Bobo, the corporate vice president of Edwards’ heart valve therapy group, stated, “These data offer yet another compelling, real-world experience to validate the excellent performance of the PERIMOUNT valve design for patients.”
Congratulations to Donald Bobo and the entire Heart Valve Therapy Group at Edwards!
Keep on tickin!
Adam
Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder
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belle says on June 19th, 2013 at 9:08 pm |
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is it okay if i have a mechanical valve and i get pregnant? |
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KAMAL says on June 19th, 2013 at 11:17 pm |
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my age is 37 and i underwent heart valves replacement in 2007.is there any problem or precautions to be taken in pregnancy if aortic and mitral valve is artifical in the body .please guide me as i am very much upset |
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Randy says on June 20th, 2013 at 10:55 am |
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Great Job Edwards! Thank you. |
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Aida says on June 20th, 2013 at 1:26 pm |
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This study shows very promising results. It would have been nice to know the age of the patients (all we know from this excerpt is under 60 which covers a wide range of ages). Also, are there studies with Mitral Valve Tissue Replacements through Edward Lifesciences? I also wanted to comment on the previous entries. Personally, I do not know of anyone who has a mechanical valve, on blood thinners and pregnant. However, I do know of a friend who shared with me that she took blood thinners and has been able to have children. As a side note, I did not ask why she was on blood thinners in the first place. With so many medical advances you would be surprised at what medicine can help people achieve if done properly and with much guidance and support. With that said, the best thing I can offer is to make a list of all of your questions and make an appointment with your team of doctors, cardiologist, ob/gyn etc to receive their medical expert advice. You can also search throughout this site to see if you find any information on the topic. As always, it is better to calm our worries by talking to those that can help us understand these challenging questions. Hope the best for you two! |
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Rita says on June 20th, 2013 at 8:15 pm |
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I am thilled. I had mitrl replaced 2008. I always say Elsie and I will last 30 years. I am getting closer after this study. Am thrilled since i was only 57 when they did my mitral repacement. |
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Chris says on June 21st, 2013 at 1:15 am |
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This is good news for me as I will be getting an aortic valve replacement within a few weeks and, after much agonizing, have chosen a bio-prosethic valve that will either be from a cow or from a pig. My doctors advised that these valves tend to not last as long in younger people as they do in older people. Since I am 65 and fairly active, I could go either way–a mechanical valve that is usually recommended for younger people or a bio-prosethic valve that is usually recommended for older persons. I am not keen keen on blood thinners for the rest of my life. I trust that I will live longer than 17 years and hope that by the time I need a replacement again there may be less invasive ways to replace the valve. |
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Lynn says on June 26th, 2013 at 10:34 pm |
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I am a caregiver for a wonderful active 90 year old woman who was just told by her doctors that her heart valve replacement of 14 years is no longer working well and she is too old for them to replace it. Their suggestion was hospice… just something to think about.. |
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Shari Shoufler says on June 28th, 2013 at 4:16 am |
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I received an Edwards Lifescience bovine mitral valve 2 1/2 years ago, and this information makes my heart literally leap for joy. You hit the nail on the head about the implications of such great success! Thanks for all you do, Adam! |
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Mike says on September 7th, 2013 at 12:16 pm |
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I got this valve in April. Is 17 years the mean in this study of 373 patients? What is the std. Deviation? What was the mean and std dev of age of sample of 373? |
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sandy says on January 1st, 2014 at 5:31 pm |
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hi I had my aortic valve replaced with a bowvine valve 7 weeks ago tomorrow. they had to crack my breast bone. can any one tell me when the pain in my chest will go away? I cant take any pain meds cause they make me itch all over and I get a bad rash. im 69 years old |
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Aida says on January 2nd, 2014 at 1:42 pm |
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Hi Lynn, I am sorry to hear about your situation as caregiver to your 90 year old patient. I hope that she is doing well inspite of the challenges she was facing last year. Your comments struck a chord with me as I became a caregiver to my husband last year when he underwent open heart surgery for mitral valve replacement at 43 years old. As much as medical technology has advanced in this field, this is a reminder that each day the valve functions as it should is a gift of life. This experience is teaching me to cherish every day and to thank God for allowing my husband to have his valve replaced. Warm Regards, Aida Bond |
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Aida says on January 2nd, 2014 at 1:57 pm |
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Hi Sandy, I am sorry to hear about the pain you are experiencing and unable to treat with pain management. As for your question, it is difficult to say when the pain will go away as each person is unique, heals at different rates, and has a different threshold for pain. My thoughts are to continue to work with your medical team for guidance and to ensure that your recovery is going well. Your caregiver might also be able to help you at home find comfortable positions that could help alleviate the discomfort. Just a thought, but my husband had open heart surgery last year and to this day he says he still feels a measure of discomfort when he moves certain ways….So, please be patient and remember that recovery is a process, a journey one takes one day at a time. Warm Regards, Aida Bond |
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Steven White says on July 13th, 2015 at 4:01 pm |
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I’m just wondering if the blood thinner is still needed for me, I have no other problems. I haven’t had any A-fib since the surgery…? |
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Steven White says on July 13th, 2015 at 4:03 pm |
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I did have my pulmonary valve replaced back in Feb 2014… Doing great but still taking blood thinner, but have no A-fib…. |
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plbevan says on October 18th, 2017 at 8:41 am |
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Grateful for my My new Lifesciences valve. Before aortic valve replacements last year I took D3 and it helped my arthritis , but dr. told me not to take vitamin D because it can damage my new bovine valve. Is this true? |
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plbevan says on October 18th, 2017 at 8:59 am |
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My experience it took 6 months for me to feel my old self again. Be patient, it takes time for the heart to heal and the trauma to you body. For months I was so sorry I had the surgery but now i feel great. God Bless and hand in there |
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Maggie says on October 11th, 2018 at 10:08 pm |
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My mitral bovine valve is 20 years old. I am 66 years old |
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Maggie says on November 30th, 2018 at 11:20 pm |
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My bovine Edwards mitral valve is 20 years old and not had to have a new one yet |
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