This valve was presented to me as the reason for getting a bio valve now instead of mechanical. Because Melody Valves can replace failing bio valves w/o OHS. If you have a mechanical valve fail, it can't be replaced with the Melody Valve. My main concern was the reported, on Melody's website, what seemed to be a high failure rate of the stint portion of the valve. 35% failure rate of the stint in first year. My surgeon down played this and because of other factors I didn't pursue researching the issue, but anyone looking at this valve, should look further into that failure rate.
BTW I opted NOT to do bio valve because I have an interrupted Fem Vein pathway (Femoral Vein doesn't go directly to my heart, so FV caths are out). So, the Melody valve can't be placed in me anyway and I didn't want to risk whether technology would've advanced placement options by the time I may have needed it. HOWEVER, if I could've resolved concerns about the stint failure rate and DID NOT have the Interrupted FV, this new option for replacing a failing bio valve, would've encouraged me to go with a bio valve for now.
I'm one of those folks who had lots of surgeries as a kid for my heart defects. I've led a pretty normal and full life thanks to those surgeons who took a chance and tried the then experimental surgeries on me. Twice, I would not have lived if the Drs and my parents had not felt that an effort might as well be made since I would die anyway if they did nothing. I'm ETERNALLY GRATEFUL for their willingness to try and not give up!!!!!
Linda