There are two main types of artificial heart valves used by surgeons.
(a) Tissue heart valves. -These valves are constructed using natural
biological tissue. The tissue is often animal tissue treated with a
substance which preserves the tissue and makes it impossible for
the patient’s body to reject the new valve.
(b) Prosthetic heart valves. These are valves made from totally
artificial substances, usually varieties of metal and plastic. These
valves contain no biological tissue. They do require that the
patient takes anticoagulant pills (for example, Warfarin) for the
rest of his life to prevent blood clots developing on the artificial
surfaces of the valve. The control of anticoagulant drug treatment
requires regular attendance at anicoagulant clinics, usually at the
local hospital. At first, visits may be required every one or two
weeks, but after a few months one visit for a blood test every six
llamon to eight weeks is usually sufficient. The choice of the type of heart valve is one which the surgeon will
discuss with the patient. Both types of heart valves achieve excellent
results. The choice in any individual patient depends on a number of
factors. You can be sure that your surgeon will choose the best available
valve for your case.