The special problems of the patient with a valvular prosthesis.

In essence, patients who have valve replacement have one disease replaced by another. Neither the mechanical nor the tissue valves available at present are free of complications. These complications include hemodynamic and hematologic abnormalities, intrinsic valve malfunction, infective endocarditis, arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure. Of these disorders thrombosis, thromboembolism, hemorrhage from anticoagulants, and infective endocarditis are the most frequent. Careful followup and awareness of the various medical problems that may arise in this group of patients are mandatory.