- A prosthetic (artificial) heart valve is a
replacement for a diseased or dysfunctional heart valve. There are two
types of artificial valves:
1-mechanical heart valve
A mechanical heart valve is made of man-made materials. The advantage of
mechanical valves is that they can usually last a lifetime. They do not
wear out the way natural or biological valves do.
2-biological heart valve
Biological heart valves are made from tissue taken from animals or human
cadavers. They are treated with preservatives and sterilized for human
implantation.
When is it used?
A prosthetic heart valve is used to replace a heart valve that leaks or
has thickened, hardened, or stretched. If the valve fails to open and
close properly, it decreases the efficient flow of blood through the heart
and results in an increased workload. Over time, this can lead to heart
failure.
Two conditions that may require heart valve replacement are stenosis and
insufficiency.
In stenosis, the valve has a smaller opening
than the original valve. The heart has to work much harder at pushing the
blood through. Over time this can cause strain on the heart and could even
lead to death.
In insufficiency (or regurgitation), the valve leaks. This may
allow the blood to flow backward through the heart.
How does it work?
Like natural heart valves, prosthetic heart valves open and close when the
heart contracts and relaxes. As they open, they permit blood to flow in
the proper direction. When they close, they prevent blood from flowing
backward (backflow).
Heart valve replacement requires open heart surgery done under general
anesthetic.
What will it accomplish?
Replacing the heart valve will allow proper blood flow through heart.
Heart valve replacement is done when damage to the heart valve starts to
significantly affect the ability of the heart to function. A patient who
has a diseased, damaged, or malfunctioning heart valve may feel weak,
tired, or otherwise handicapped. Replacing a heart valve can lengthen or
save a person’s life and increase the quality of life.
What are the risks?
Heart valve surgery carries risks of severe complications. Potential
complications include bleeding, development of blood clots, respiratory
failure, infection, and device failure.
Your doctor can tell you more about the risks associated with prosthetic
heart valves.
Risks associated with each type of heart valve:
mechanical heart valves
Mechanical heart valves can increase the risk of blood clots. Because of
this, patients must take blood thinners for the rest of their lives. Even
though blood thinners are relatively safe, they do increase the risk of
bleeding in the body.
biological heart valves
Biological heart valves may wear out over time. They may need to be
replaced every 10 to 15 years.
When should it not be used?
Mechanical heart valves should not be placed in patients who can not
tolerate long-term anticoagulation therapy.
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