Four decades with a Starr-Edwards ball valve in the aortic position.

As the first reliable prosthetic heart valve to be introduced, the Starr-Edwards ball valve prosthesis has gained worldwide clinical acceptance. Although very few instances have been described of valve durability exceeding 30 years, the case is reported of a patient with a well-functioning Starr-Edwards ball valve prosthesis in the aortic position, 43 years after implantation.