What is Heart Valve Replacement?
Heart valve replacement removes or excludes a severely diseased native valve and implants a mechanical or biological prosthesis when durable repair is unsuitable. Surgical replacement usually uses cardiopulmonary bypass to excise diseased tissue and secure a sized prosthesis. Mechanical valves are durable but generally require lifelong vitamin-K-antagonist anticoagulation; tissue valves avoid lifelong valve-related VKA for many patients but can deteriorate.





