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A little update as I spoke to my surgeon. The inspiris valve is available to me here in the UK. I asked about the longevity claims and was told they were based on extrapolations from observing calcification in animal models. One of the common failures of bioprosthetic valves is calcification...

One thing I've noticed is a lot of 'kick it down the line' thinking when medics advise on valve choice. Now that peri-operative safety is pretty damn good a lot of cardiologists seem to feel like having several OHS is totally fine, and technology will always be better 'in ten years' - whatever...

astle9 - I'm asking about it because I have to make a decision. No reflection on yours whatsoever - this can only ever be a very personal choice. May I ask how old you were when the valve was installed?

Overall my assessment is that it seems like some clever design ideas which have shown equivalent safety and durability to current tissue valves in trials, over a 3 year period. The idea of a 'TAVI ready' valve is kind of cool, but only if you're of an age where one or two TAVI procedures will...

DJM 18 , Paleowoman - yes pellicle nailed it, 20+ years is in the first post of the thread here and I've seen many posts on this forum present this as having equivalent lifespan to a mechanical valve. No hard feelings or fingers pointed, I just wondered if there was a piece of research...

I just can't see any data anywhere which justifies the 20 year claim regarding this valve - where does this claim come from?

Thanks again for the replies everyone. Definitely helpful as I make my decision. Thanks!

Paleowoman - I keep seeing the Inspris mentioned here. It's an artificial bio valve? What's the advantage? I'll definitely ask about it as the article you posted mentioned the first surgery was done at Harefield which is in fact my hospital!

Superman are you actually able to go tissue after a mechanical valve? My understanding was that isn't possible. Thanks for the replies everyone! food for thought. I've been oscillating from one to the other pretty frequently right now! One issue I have with the anticoagulant stuff is - I like...

Hi all! I've been given the go ahead for surgery recently and am now beginning to submerge myself in the whole mechanical vs bio question. To complicate matters I have been given conflicting opinions by my surgeon and cardiologist. My cardiologist was very firm on a tissue valve - insisting...

Thanks for your replies everyone. As I mentioned earlier my last cardio visit (on Friday) saw my doctor recommending surgery. I will see a surgeon tomorrow (Monday) and we will discuss options. I'm also now on ACE inhibitors for the blood pressure. I'm kind of excited to be moving things...

Thanks pellicle and DJM 18 ! Inspiring stuff. I'm still wrapping my head around it all but these active life stories are important. I'm determined to live a full life! Just need to set my business up for me taking a 6 week break now...

pellicle - that's inspiring stuff, thanks! I've been very active in my life, rock climbing, month long mountain hikes, weight lifting etc - and I'd really like to think I can get back to some of those things post surgery. Thanks Superman and Paleowoman for the advice regarding tubes and...

I was given sertraline which is used for severe anxiety. At any rate I didn't like it at all

Yes the recovery bothers me as well.. really with the operation I'm afraid of the things around it like having a breathing tube, open holes in the chest etc.

Thanks, that kind of thing is reassuring. Keeping active is so hard! I used to be do a lot of resistance training and big into high intensity exercise before this.. I feel I can't do that stuff now (especially the weights). I should get more into yoga. As ever the fear is about that space in the...

Thanks for the advice - yes I am seeing a psychologist. I tried some anti anxiety medication but found SSRIs intolerable with all the paradoxical anxiety and other side effects. I am using diazapam to control the worst of the anxiety right now but it is a struggle!

Thanks for the replies! Weirdly, though I am scared of the surgery, I'm far more scared of keeling over BEFORE the surgery at this stage. I have been told this is unlikely by my cardiologist but nonetheless that's my fear.

Hello everyone, I've been watching the forums here and reading with interest. Thanks all for your participation. I'm a 31 year old man, diagnosed with BAV 1.5 years ago. At the time I had an echo which came back with mild/moderate regurgitation and I was essentially cleared to live life as...