Patricia 's Journal

Susan Lynn  Welcome, Pat! Make sure you speak to at least a few mitral valve surgeons before making your final decision. My understanding is that some stenotic valves can be repaired by experienced surgeons. If they do need to replace it, it's a very individual choice in choosing a bio v. mechanical valve. It's a fallacy that you can't eat foods with Vitamin K with a mechanical valve - you can, however, your blood thinners will be prescribed based on your dietary habits, so consistency is important. There are lots of folks who have had bio and mechanical valves (mostly aortic) who will hopefully share their experiences. We don't see many mitral valve replacements as more than 90% are repaired by high-volume mitral valve surgeons. Definitely do you research - you want to be confident in your decision. Best of luck!