Noninferiority of Closely Monitored Mechanical Valves to Bioprostheses Overshadowed by Early Mortality Benefit in Younger Patients

Patients aged 65 years or younger with MP and closely monitored anticoagulation display noninferiority to BP from bleeding and thromboembolic complications. MP valves begin to confer mortality benefit over BP as early as 7.5 years postoperatively. Because this predates the timeline of typical structural valve degeneration, equipoise is suggested when choosing a BP in a young patient with future expectations of valve-in-valve intervention.