3 common types of artificial heart valves and pros and cons

Artificial heart valves are materials used to replace damaged heart valves, often seen in severe heart valve diseases. There are many types of artificial heart valves, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. So, what kind of heart valve replacement is good? The following article will provide information to help patients choose the right artificial heart valve.

Artificial heart valve is an artificial material used to replace severely damaged heart valves, often seen in severe heart valve diseases such as severe mitral regurgitation, mitral stenosis, aortic regurgitation. severe aortic stenosis, aortic stenosis,...
An artificial heart valve is ideal when it meets conditions such as ease of installation, durability, hemodynamic efficiency, and no risk mechanism of thrombus formation on the valve, does not cause hemolysis and is relatively inexpensive. However, to date, there has not been an ideal prosthetic heart valve that meets such criteria. After replacing the prosthetic heart valve, the patient needs to have regular check-ups and take medication exactly as prescribed by the doctor.

There are many types of artificial heart valves, in which, the 3 most common types are mechanical artificial heart valves, biological artificial heart valves and allogeneic heart valves.
Mechanical artificial heart valves are made from metal or titanium, the outside is coated with heat-resistant carbon to limit the formation of blood clots. Biological artificial heart valves are manufactured from processed natural materials. It is the heart valve or pericardium of animals such as cows, pigs, horses. Allogeneic heart valve is a heart valve taken from an organ donor, which has been processed and preserved according to the procedure. This is a type of biological heart valve without artificial materials.

Each type of artificial heart valve has its own characteristics. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each prosthetic heart valve will help in choosing which type of valve replacement is good and suitable for the patient's body.
3.1. Mechanical prosthetic heart valve Advantages of mechanical prosthetic heart valves:
High durability, can last from 20 to 30 years or more. Does not degrade over time. Low price. Disadvantages of mechanical prosthetic heart valves:
There is the highest risk of thrombus formation on the valve, causing valve jamming or organ infarction such as myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction. Lifelong anticoagulation is required. Therefore, mechanical heart valves are indicated in people under 60 years of age who can take anticoagulants or who have pre-existing medical conditions for which anticoagulation is indicated, such as atrial fibrillation, left atrial dilation, intracardiac thrombosis, ... Increased risk of bleeding due to anticoagulation, especially in the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions that increase the risk of bleeding such as cirrhosis of the liver, peptic ulcer disease. Common bleeding conditions such as subcutaneous bleeding, gastric bleeding, urinary tract bleeding and the most severe is cerebral hemorrhage. There is a risk of fetal malformations in the first trimester of pregnancy due to anticoagulants. Cannot be used for people without conditions to monitor medical care, people in remote areas,... 3.2. Biological prosthetic heart valves Advantages of biological prosthetic heart valves:
No need to use anticoagulants for life, usually in the first 3 months after surgery. Can be used in women planning to become pregnant, but it should be noted that the rate of valve degeneration occurs faster in young people and during pregnancy. Can be used for people with poor medical care monitoring conditions, people in remote areas,... Disadvantages of biological artificial heart valves:
Low durability, life expectancy of biological heart valves is only from 8 to 15 years. Degenerate gradually over time, causing open or narrow artificial valve, affecting the operation of the valve. It costs twice as much as a mechanical prosthetic heart valve. 3.3. Homogeneous artificial heart valve Advantages of allogeneic heart valves:
High antibacterial. No need for anticoagulants. Durability is better than biological prosthetic heart valves but lower than mechanical prosthetic heart valves. Disadvantages of allogeneic heart valves:
Due to the dependence on the donor, the valve size is not diverse. A few. The preservation procedure and implantation technique are more complicated than that of an artificial heart valve.

Hopefully, after reading the reference information in the above article, you will be able to make the most suitable choice for yourself (if you have to replace an artificial heart valve). Be sure to consult your doctor before making a decision about which type of valve to replace.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is the only place in Vietnam that is equipped with a Hybrid room equipped with advanced equipment such as DSA angiography machine, anesthesia machine with integrated hemodynamic monitoring software. the most rigorous way (PiCCO system, entropy,...). Therefore, Hybrid operating room can meet the requirements of surgery and angioplasty, coronary stenting, aortic stent graft, open heart surgery, heart valve replacement for congenital heart diseases with the least invasive technique. , safe to help patients recover soon.
Vinmec's cardiology team works in unison and support from Dr. Nguyen Van Phong, and Dr. Le Duc Hiep who participated in the surgery, all trained directly by foreign experts.
Vinmec is also the only place in Vietnam awarded the certificate of "Independent aortic valve replacement center in Vietnam" and GS. Vo Thanh Nhan is the first interventional cardiologist to be awarded the "Proctor" certificate in Vietnam. Vinmec's further goal is to become an excellent interventional cardiology center according to US standards, integrating with the world's level of cardiovascular intervention.

Reference source: benhvienvietduc.org