Summary:
There are two types of artificial heart valves: bioprosthetic and mechanical. This article explains, not only the difference between each valve but also the pros and cons of each.

Details or Sample:
When a person´s heart valves leak excessively or become restricted in how they open, they may need to be replaced. Open-heart surgery is the only way to replace damaged heart valves.

The surgeon has many choices of heart valve manufacturers. However, there are two basic types of artificial heart valves to choose from: the mechanical valve and the bioprosthetic valve. Which type of valve is chosen will dictate how you live your post heart surgery life.

The first type of valve is called a mechanical heart valve. This valve is made of metal alloys and usually consists of disks opening and closing with each heart beat. These were the first heart valves developed and have a good track record.

There are pros and cons to a mechanical heart valve. On the plus side the valve is sturdy and may last longer than the bioprosthetic valve.

Because of this longevity the surgeon may push the mechanical heart valve to the younger patient. The rationale being that the valve will probably last for the lifetime of the patient. Surgeons don´t want to re-do a heart surgery because of a failing heart valve when the patient is in their eighties, for example, and at higher risk for complications.

The minus to using a mechanical heart valve is a big minus. Since the mechanical heart valve is made of metal, the human body will "see" it as a foreign body and try to form blood clots on it as if it were an injury.

To counteract this process the patient will forever need to be on an anti-coagulant medication known as, Coumadin. Taking Coumadin is a daily event, which needs to be monitored closely.

Frequent blood tests are required to assess a patients´ blood coagulability. In other words a patients´ blood needs to be thin...but not too thin. If the blood is too thin it can lead to internal bleeding. If it is too thick it can lead to blood clots forming on the valve, which can lead to strokes and all sorts of nasty events.

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Written by: glatz
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