Between January 1981 and January 1991, 554 patients underwent prosthetic valve replacement. A bioprosthetic valve was replaced in 238 cases and mechanical valve 316 cases. Thirty-eight patients underwent 40 reoperations for repair or replacement, an average of 53.6 months after initial implantation. There were 21 women and 19 men, aged 12 to 60 years[mean 35.3]. A bioprosthetic valve was implanted in 31 cases and a mechanical valve in 9 cases for initial operation. Indications for reoperation were primary tissue failure in 23 cases[57.5%], endocarditis in 9[22.5%], periprosthetic leak in 4[10%]. and valve thrombosis in 4[10%]. Operations performed included 5 aortic valve replacements, 26 mitral valve replacement, 8 double valve replacements, and 1 thrombectomy. A mechanical valve was replaced in 33 cases[84.6%] and a bioprosthesis in 6[15.4Zo] for reoperation. A second reoperation was required in 2 patients. Surgical mortality was 10% . Among the 34 early survivors followed-up for an average of 19.8 months. there was 1 late death and 3 were lost to follow-up. Among the 30 late survivors being followed up, 28[93.3%] remained in New York Heart Association Class I or II and two in Class III [6.7%].