CHOOSING A PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE
ABSTRACT: The heart is a vital
part of human anatomy because it functions as a pump to circulate blood
throughout the body. Heart valves allow the heart to pump blood to specific locations
efficiently. These valves are prone to disease and malfunction, and can be
replaced by prosthetic heart valves. The two main types of prosthetic heart
valves are mechanical and bioprosthetic. The mechanical valves are excellent in
terms of durability, but are hindered by their tendency to coagulate the blood.
Bioprosthetic valves are less durable and must be replaced periodically. When
one of the valves of the heart becomes infected with a disease, it can be
replaced with one of several different types of prosthetic valves. No
prosthetic valve is ideal. None of the available mechanical or biologic valves
has the performance and durability of the native human semilunar and
atrioventricular valves. Therefore, the selection of a valve must take into
account the relative advantages and disadvantages of a particular prosthesis
and how to apply to the patient's risk profile.
Author: Iwan N Boestan, Dyana
Sarvasti
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg050029
