Y'know... just when I start to reconsider the possibility of a mechanical valve I read the kind of hyperbole quoted above and it suddenly jolts me back to reality.
Here is a link to the "situational safety" page on PTINR.com, a site connected to the very one you're now reading by a big ole hyperlink right up there in the upper right hand corner.
http://www.ptinr.com/data/pages/search.aspx?search=Situational Safety:
Here are a few quotes from that page:
"Few patients think of the hazards of a simple box of plastic wrap..."
"Hidden dangers lurk in every dishwasher."
"Pick up a few tips on how to reduce your risk of a blood clot while gardening..."
"Car doors present one of the greatest risks for patients on warfarin on any given day" [Jeez and Pres. Bush had me thinking it was the "evildoers"... (sorry, couldn't resist that one...)]
"Stubbing one's toe not only hurts - it represents and internal bleeding risk..."
It would be comical if it weren't so damned serious.