How Replacement Heart Valves Work
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Introduction
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When your heart valves have grown too thick, hard or stretchy, they will most likely need to be replaced with artificial heart valves. Heart valves may also need to be replaced if they are leaking, or are unable to open and close properly. The replacement of heart valves is a risky surgery, and requires open heart surgery. However, most people who need new heart valves have little choice as they will not survive long without undergoing the procedure.
Types
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There are two types of replacement heart valves, biological and mechanical. A mechanical heart valve is completely made of synthetic materials. Its advantage is that it is guaranteed to last a lifetime. However, the synthetic material can leave the patient open to a risk for blood clots, creating the need to be on blood thinners the rest of his life. The biological valve is made of human tissue. This removes the need for blood thinners, but creates the chance that it will need to be replaced at a later time.
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Function
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A replacement heart valve works by allowing the blood to flow freely through the valve again without leaking. When a valve gets too hard and tough or too stretchy, it affects the flow of blood through the valve. The replacement valve opens and closes like a healthy valve would, opening when the heart contracts and closing when the heart relaxes. This keeps the blood only flowing in one direction, and prevents it from back flowing when the heart relaxes. Also, since it is powered by the contractions of the heart, there is no need for any other supporting structure to power it or make it work.
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Resources
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