What materials is an artificial heart valve made of?
An artificial heart valve is made of particularly durable materials. In laboratory studies, the artificial valves have been attested a durability of 100 to 300 years. In order to be so durable, the material must be both durable and well accepted by the body.
Therefore, the various components of the artificial valve are made of carbon and a well-tolerated plastic. These materials also have the advantage that they are very light and therefore do not change the feeling in the chest. While an artificial heart valve, as the name suggests, is made of artificial material, biological valves come from other living beings.
The aortic valve of pigs or part of the pericardium of a cow is usually used for this purpose. An organ donor valve from a deceased person can also be used. The biological materials are chemically processed after they are taken from the donor (human or animal) so that they do not cause any problems in the body.
In contrast to artificial heart valves, biological heart valves have a significantly shortened lifespan. The valve material is subject to a completely normal aging process and has an average lifespan of eight to fifteen years.One advantage over the artificial heart valve is that no blood thinners need to be taken. The artificial heart valve changes the flow of blood in such a way that turbulence is created, which can easily lead to small blood clots (thrombi).
To counteract this, blood thinners such as Marcumar® must be taken. This is not necessary for biological heart valves. Their mechanical properties are so similar to the body’s own valves that the flow behavior of the blood does not change.
What is the life expectancy with an artificial heart valve?
Life expectancy with an artificial heart valve is in principle increased after the operation. This is mainly due to the fact that the heart is able to regenerate itself again, after it has usually had to pump more for a longer period of time due to the broken valve. With targeted lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and regular physical activity, the life expectancy with an artificial heart valve is comparable to the life expectancy of healthy people.
In addition, an artificial heart valve (just like a biological heart valve) significantly improves the quality of life. The heart no longer has to work more frequently when at rest and therefore has much more reserves that can be exhausted during physical activity. Unlike the biological heart valve, the artificial valve is almost indestructible.
The material of the valve itself survives the entire life of the person concerned. Nevertheless, problems such as leaks can occur, and a new valve may have to be inserted. In addition, even with an artificial heart valve, life expectancy is significantly dependent on other diseases such as hypercholesterolemia (high blood lipid levels) or diabetes. Only if these are well adjusted with medication, life expectancy will also improve.
