[tired_medicine]

Mech valves are actually favored in younger patients, since they don't become calcified, like bioprosthetic valves. However, they do require life long anticoagulation with warfarin, which is dangerous to live with.

[Ensorceled]

Calcification was what happened with my grandmother; due to other ailments and QoL (she was 85) she declined getting a new valve.