How long does a tissue heart valve replacement last?

Tissue Valve Tissue valves can last 10 to 20 years, and usually don’t require the long-term use of medication. For a young person with a tissue valve replacement, the need for additional surgery or another valve replacement later in life is highly likely.

Is a tissue heart valve considered artificial?

The three main types of artificial heart valves are mechanical, biological (bioprosthetic/tissue), and tissue-engineered valves. In the US, UK and the European Union, the most common type of artificial heart valve is the bioprosthetic valve.

What is a tissue heart valve?

What is a tissue heart valve? A heart valve may be replaced when it is damaged or narrowed by disease. Your doctor replaces your valve with an artificial valve made of animal tissue. The new valve controls the normal flow of blood into and out of the heart.

Is replacing a heart valve major surgery?

Heart valve surgery is open-heart surgery through the breastbone, into the chest. It is a major operation that can last two hours or longer and recovery often takes several weeks.

What are the disadvantages of heart valve replacement?

The biggest drawback of mechanical heart valve replacement is the need for lifelong blood thinning medication (anticoagulation). Blood-thinning treatment comes with risk of bleeding complications. The most appealing part of a bioprosthetic heart valve is that it does typically require blood-thinning medication.

What is the life expectancy of someone with an artificial heart valve?

For example, they estimated that a 45-year-old undergoing mechanical valve replacement has a life expectancy of 19 years (compared with 34 years in the general population), and lifetime risk of thrombo-embolism, bleeding, and re-intervention of 18, 15, and 10%, respectively.

What are the disadvantages of using a cow tissue heart valve?

Disadvantages of cow tissue valve:

  • made from cow so possible objections on religious grounds.
  • new procedure so could be unknown risks.
  • risks of using a stent, eg blood clots, stent breaking or valve tearing.
  • not proven as a long term treatment.
  • may be rejected.

How serious is a valve replacement?

An aortic valve replacement is a major operation and occasionally the complications can be fatal. Overall, the risk of dying as a result of the procedure is estimated to be 1 to 3%. But this risk is far lower than the risk associated with leaving severe aortic disease untreated.

Does heart valve surgery shorten your life?

Patients who have undergone surgical replacement of the heart’s aortic valve have a shorter life expectancy than the normal population, the loss in life expectancy being particularly marked in the young.

How do you know if you need a valve replacement?

Some physical signs of heart valve disease can include:

  1. Chest pain or palpitations (rapid rhythms or skips)
  2. Shortness of breath, difficulty catching your breath, fatigue, weakness, or inability to maintain regular activity level.
  3. Lightheadedness or fainting.
  4. Swollen ankles, feet or abdomen.

What is the life expectancy of a heart valve replacement?

According to its research, “the mean age of patients presenting for valve surgery is increasing, as is the life expectancy following valve surgery.” If you look at the graph above, you can see that life expectancy ranges from 29.9 years to 14.3 years for patients experiencing heart valve surgery between the age range of 50 to 70.

What is the survival rate for a heart valve replacement?

• The mortality rate for combined mitral and aortic valve replacement surgery is 10.6% and its survival rate is 80.95% at 10 years. Nowadays the success rate of the heart valve replacement surgery has increased to a satisfactory level.

What happens after a heart valve replacement?

AFTER THE SURGICAL HEART VALVE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. When your heart valve has been replaced and the surgery is completed, your heart will be beating on its own and all incisions will be sewn or stapled closed.

What to expect from a heart valve replacement?

When your heart valve has been replaced and the surgery is completed, your heart will be beating on its own and all incisions will be sewn or stapled closed. Following the surgery, you’ll spend some time in the ICU, where you will be closely monitored to make sure there are no complications.