What is the difference between heart valve replacements made from metal and tissue?
There are several important differences between mechanical and biological (tissue) heart valves. In simple terms, one must balance the risk of using long-term blood thinners (mechanical valves) against the risk of the valve wearing out and requiring another valve replacement operation in the future (biological valves). The major advantage of mechanical valves is their durability. In young patients this is particularly important because they may need the valve for many years. Mechanical valves have been reported to last for several decades, a record much better than for biological valves. The major disadvantage is the tendency for blood clots to form on mechanical valves. Not only could blood clots cause the valve to malfunction, but also they could lead to strokes or other serious problems. For this reason, anticoagulation medications are required. Anticoagulants are commonly referred to as blood thinners and warfarin (brand-name Coumadin) is the most frequently prescribed formulation.
