Due to its metallic nature, the valve makes a clicking noise with every heart beat that the
patient may hear and in a quiet room, others may hear. Much like noises in the
environment, however, the patient and others will get used to the sound and stop hearing
it after a while.
There may be times that you are laying or sitting down in a quiet area and you hear a "clicking"
sound. This is normal, it is the mechanical leaflets opening and closing properly. Do not be
alarmed.
If a clot forms it can lodge in the valve flaps or hinges and cause a malfunction of the valve.
Clots can also break off and move through the blood vessels to another blood vessel causing an
obstruction. This obstruction can cause a complication like a heart attack or stroke.
Bio Prosthetic (Tissue)
Generally, the natural valves or bio prosthetic
valves consist of either a pig valve (literally a valve
that comes from a pig) or made from part of a cow
heart (the sack around the cow heart-pericardium).
They function and behave similarly.
Pros:
They make no noise (quiet valves)
No medicines needed specific to the
valve. In general there is no need for Coumadin unless required for other reasons.
Because these are not made from living tissues, there is no rejection or allergy to these
valves. They are considered inert or non-reactive.
Cons:
Because of the natural nature of these valves, they do wear out in time. Generally
speaking they last on average 15 years. When they deteriorate, if the patient is alive and
well, an intervention will be required.
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