I think the main point of the article is that AF is the most common cardiac disorder. I also think that when someone has had heart surgery and develops atrial fib then the treatment is almost always anticoagulation therapy.
If someone chooses a bio valve rather than a mechanical one then he should just know that there is still a significant risk of still ending up on coumadin. To many people it obviously is well worth the risk. I personally prefer being on coumadin than knowing I would have to eventually have another heart surgery. I guess if I knew I would get along fine until surgery was needed would be one thing but going through a period when I knew my valve was deteriorating and not functioning well just brings to my mind how bad I was feeling before surgery and I sure wouldn't want to go through that again. Anyway, it sure is nice to have a choice. Years ago we would have just been dead.
If someone chooses a bio valve rather than a mechanical one then he should just know that there is still a significant risk of still ending up on coumadin. To many people it obviously is well worth the risk. I personally prefer being on coumadin than knowing I would have to eventually have another heart surgery. I guess if I knew I would get along fine until surgery was needed would be one thing but going through a period when I knew my valve was deteriorating and not functioning well just brings to my mind how bad I was feeling before surgery and I sure wouldn't want to go through that again. Anyway, it sure is nice to have a choice. Years ago we would have just been dead.