Artificial heart valve

Artificial Heart Valve

An artificial heart valve is a device implanted in the heart of a patient with valvular heart disease. When one of the four heart valves malfunctions, the medical choice may be to replace the natural valve with an artificial one. This procedure is known as a heart valve replacement.

Types of Artificial Heart Valves[edit | edit source]

There are two main types of artificial heart valves: mechanical heart valves and bioprosthetic heart valves.

Mechanical Heart Valves[edit | edit source]

A mechanical heart valve

Mechanical heart valves are made from materials which are not likely to react with the body, such as titanium and carbon. These valves are designed to last indefinitely. However, blood tends to stick to them and create clots, so patients with these valves must take anticoagulant drugs (blood thinners) for the rest of their lives.

Bioprosthetic Heart Valves[edit | edit source]

File:Bioprosthetic heart valve.jpg

A bioprosthetic heart valve

Bioprosthetic heart valves are made from animal tissue, often from the heart valves of pigs. The advantage of these valves is that they are less likely to cause blood clots, so patients with these valves do not need to take anticoagulant drugs. However, these valves tend to wear out and may need to be replaced after about 10 to 15 years.

Procedure[edit | edit source]

The procedure to replace a heart valve with an artificial heart valve is known as a heart valve surgery. The surgery can be performed as an open-heart surgery or a minimally invasive cardiac surgery. The choice of procedure depends on the patient's overall health and the condition of the heart.

Risks and Complications[edit | edit source]

As with any surgery, there are risks associated with heart valve replacement. These include infection, bleeding, and reaction to anesthesia. Long-term complications may include blood clots, valve dysfunction, and endocarditis.