Mechanical or Bioprosthetic Heart Valves: Which Is Best For You?

www.HeartValve... - Patients diagnosed with a severe heart valve defect - that is not repairable - will face a very important question, "Which is the right type of heart valve replacement for me?"
There are two different types of heart valve replacement devices - mechanical and bioprosthetic (also referred to as biological or tissue valve). To learn more about the pros and cons of each type of heart valve replacement, we met with Dr. Marc Gillinov, Chairman of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. During his extraordinary career, Dr. Gillinov has performed over 5,000 heart valve operations.
Key questions addressed by Dr. Gillinov in this video include:
1. Which types of valvular defects should be repaired (e.g. mitral valve prolapse)? Which types of valve disorders should be replaced (e.g. aortic stenosis)?
2. What are mechanical valve replacements made from? What are the advantages of mechanical valve replacements from the patient perspective? What are the concerns of mechanical valve replacements?
3. What role do blood thinners play for patients who receive mechanical heart valve replacements?
4. What are the different types of bioprosthetic valves? Which type of animal tissue is used to make bioprosthetic (or biological) heart valve replacements (e.g. pig, cow)?
5. What are the advantages and concerns of bioprosthetic valve replacements from the patient perspective?
6. What is Dr. Gillinov's advice for patients considering a mechanical or bioprosthetic heart valve replacement?
To schedule an appointment or second opinion with Dr. Marc Gillinov, please call [phone] or visit www.heart-valv....