Biological Valve Replacement
Biological valve replacements have many advantages to mechanical replacement. Biological materials do not require lifelong anticoagulants. The valve is made from cow or pig and is surgically inserted into the patient. One drawback to biological valves is that they are not as durable as mechanical valves and can wear out easily when stress is applied to the heart often. Complications with biological valve replacement include stenosis, endocarditis, hemolysis, thromboembolism, valve thrombosis, anemia, arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, hemorrhage, myocardial infarction, and angina. These complications could lead to reoperation, explanation, permanent disability, or death. Biological valve replacement has lost some of its popularity since mitral repair has shown greater long-term survival than biological and mechanical valve replacement.