Why are pig hearts valves used as replacements for damaged heart valves in humans? Are there any complications and are they still used today?
Biological valve is made of human or animal tissue. These valves last 12 - 15 years, but you may not need to take blood thinners for life. Human body has a tendency to reject foreign material such as porcine valve. Medication can be used to retard this effect, but is not always successful. Biologic porcine heterograft - harvested aortic valve of pig that is preserved in glutaraldehyde and mounted on specially designed sewing ring. (Carpentier - Edwards/ Hancock/ Medtronic) Tissue valves are also made from 16 to 18 months old calves and harvested aortic valve from human cadaver.
The tissue is most like ours. Yes, they are still used. They have a low rate of rejection.
They are called porcine valves... they are used very frequently because you don't have to be put on anticoagulation. But, the down side is... they only last about 15 yrs and then they have to be replaced. A pigs heart is pretty close to a human one.
