[Management of the prosthetic heart valve patient in clinical practice].
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.
Roudaut
Raymond
R
Service de cardiologie et maladies vasculaires, CHU Bordeaux, hôpital cardiologique du Haut-Lévêque, 33604 Pessac, France. raymond.roudaut@pu.u-bordeaux2.fr
Mignot
Aude
A
Réant
Patricia
P
Lafitte
Stéphane
S
Blanc
Pierre
P
Hervé
Douard
D