Valve Type in Aortic Valve Replacement
There are multiple types of replacement valves that may be used during aortic valve replacement surgery. Valve types include stentless valves, mechanical valves, and homograft valves. There are many considerations in choosing the type of valve for aortic valve replacement, and each patient will ultimately need to discuss the type of valve with a cardiac surgeon.Homograft Valves for Aortic Valve Replacement
Homograft valves are taken from another human donor. They are removed, treated with antibiotics, and frozen for preservation. One main advantage of homograft valves is that blood thinners are not needed. Blood thinners (known as Coumadin or Wafarin) place patients at an increased risk of bleeding, which may lead to a stroke or other complication. In addition, patients with recurrent endocarditis (infection of the heart valve) may benefit from a homograft valve due to decreased risk of infectiton. Finally, there are certain aspects of each persons anatomy that may indicate one valve choice over another. These considerations are highly detailed and must be carefully evaluated by a cardiac surgeon with extensive experience in valve replacement.More Information on Homograft AVR
• STS Information on Aortic Valve Replacement
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