Know your surgical heart valve replacement options

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Tissue and mechanical valves

Prosthetic (or artificial) replacement valves are made from a variety of materials. There are two main categories of replacement heart valves: tissue and mechanical.

Tissue valve

Tissue valves (also called bioprosthetic valves) are made with animal tissue such as bovine (cow) tissue or porcine (pig) tissue.

Mechanical valve

Mechanical valves are made from synthetic material, usually carbon.

Choosing the right heart valve for your health and future

Choosing which valve is right for you should be a shared decision made by you and your doctor.

Communicate with your doctor so you can be aware of the considerations that come with your valve choice and how they might affect your post-surgery lifestyle.

Today, there are several treatment options for valvular heart disease (VHD), including medications, heart valve repair, or valve replacement. If you end up requiring surgery, you and your doctor may consider the repair or replacement of your damaged heart valve.

Comparing tissue and mechanical heart valves

	Tissue valves	Mechanical valves
Long-term blood thinner required	No	Yes Daily blood thinner medication and regular blood tests for the rest of your life
Valve longevity	10 to over 20 years, depending on type of valve, patient characteristics, and other factors RESILIA tissue has been shown in animal studies¹to have less calcium build-up, potentially allowing the valve to last longer^*	Over 20 years, in general
Lifestyle and dietary considerations	Yes May need to reduce calcium intake	Yes Limits active lifestyle and foods high in vitamin K (such as leafy greens) from diet
Noticeable sounds from valve	No	Yes Clicking sound as valve opens and closes
Pregnancy considerations	No No known pregnancy complication risk	Yes High pregnancy complication risks due to use of blood thinners

*RESILIA tissue has not been studied for long term results in patients.

Learn about RESILIA mitral valve Learn about RESILIA aortic valve

Prepare to talk to your doctor with the informed discussion guide

Surgical aortic valve replacement:
Choosing the right valve for you

View guide

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References

Flameng W, et al. A randomized assessment of an advanced tissue preservation technology in the juvenile sheep model. J Thoracic Cardiovas Surg. 2015;149(1):340-5.

Important Risk Information

INSPIRIS RESILIA aortic valve

Indications: For use in replacement of native or prosthetic aortic heart valves.

Contraindications (Who should not receive): There are no known contraindications with the use of the INSPIRIS RESILIA aortic valve.

Complications and Side Effects: The risks with the INSPIRIS RESILIA aortic valve are similar to risks with other heart valves, and include the following:

Heart failure
Leaking from the valve or areas around the valve
Improper opening and closing of the valve
Damage to red blood cells that can result in low red blood cell count
Heart lining inflammation
Heart infection
Abnormal bleeding or bleeding problems from using blood thinners
Clots from around the valve or other areas of the heart entering the bloodstream and blocking blood flow
Heart attack
Heart rhythm problems that may lead to the need for implanting a permanent pacemaker, a device that helps your heart beat in regular rhythm
Allergic reaction to the materials in the valve

These could lead to the need for reoperation to replace the valve, permanent disability, or death.

This is not a complete list of all the risks that can occur with heart valve surgery. Your doctor can give you more information about these and other risks. This information is not a substitute for talking with your doctor.

MITRIS RESILIA mitral valve

Indications: For use in replacement of native or prosthetic mitral heart valves.

Contraindications (Who should not receive): There are no known contraindications with the use of the MITRIS RESILIA mitral valve.

Complications and Side Effects: The risks with the MITRIS RESILIA mitral valve are similar to risks with other heart valves, and include the following:

Heart failure
Leaking from the valve or areas around the valve
Improper opening and closing of the valve
Damage to red blood cells that can result in low red blood cell count
Heart lining inflammation
Heart infection
Abnormal bleeding or bleeding problems from using blood thinners
Clots from around the valve or other areas of the heart entering the bloodstream and blocking blood flow
Heart attack
Heart rhythm problems that may lead to the need for implanting a permanent pacemaker, a device that helps your heart beat in regular rhythm
Injury could occur to the heart tissue or blood flow could be blocked
Allergic reaction to the materials in the valve

These could lead to the need for reoperation to replace the valve, permanent disability, or death.

KONECT RESILIA aortic valved conduit

Indications: For use in replacement of native or prosthetic aortic heart valves and the associated repair and replacement of a damaged or diseased ascending aorta.

Contraindications (Who should not receive): There are no known contraindications with the use of the KONECT RESILIA aortic valve conduit.

Complications and Side Effects: The risks with the KONECT RESILIA aortic valve conduit are similar to risks with other heart valves, and include the following:

Heart failure
Leaking from the valve or areas around the valve
Improper opening and closing of the valve
Damage to red blood cells that can result in low red blood cell count
Heart lining inflammation
Heart infection
Abnormal bleeding or bleeding problems from using blood thinners
Clots from around the valve or other areas of the heart entering the bloodstream and blocking blood flow
Heart attack
Heart rhythm problems that may lead to the need for implanting a permanent pacemaker, a device that helps your heart beat in regular rhythm
Allergic reaction to the materials in the valve or graft
Graft infection
Ballooning and weakening of an area in an artery
Blood collecting between the layers of an artery
Fluid buildup under the surface of the skin
Fluid buildup around the graft
Blockage of a blood vessel
New tissue growth on the graft
Enlargement of the graft

These could lead to the need for reoperation to replace the valve, permanent disability, or death.

CAUTION: Federal (United States) law restricts these devices to sale by or on the order of a physician.