title: [Management of the prosthetic heart valve patient in clinical practice].
abstract: In use since 1961, valvular prostheses allow the correction of the severe valvular diseases when conservatrice procedures are not possible. Current prostheses have outstanding haemodynamic features. Mechanical prostheses have a supposedly unlimited life span but require anticoagulant treatment. Bioprostheses do not need such treatment but end up to deteriorate and need reoperation. Both can be affected by valve-related complications (thromboembolic events, endocarditis, deterioration, desinsertion...): an ideal prosthesis does not exist yet. All patients with valvular prosthesis require close follow-up, where echocardiography holds preeminent place.
authors.affiliation: Service de cardiologie et maladies vasculaires, CHU Bordeaux, hôpital cardiologique du Haut-Lévêque, 33604 Pessac, France. raymond.roudaut@pu.u-bordeaux2.fr
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roudaut
authors.forename: Aude
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mignot
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Réant
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lafitte
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blanc
authors.forename: Douard
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hervé