Top questions about heart valve replacement
If you need a new heart valve, here's what to know about the different options — and when and why doctors recommend them.
- Reviewed by Pinak B. Shah, MD, Contributor
Replacement heart valves, which are mechanical (made of metal or carbon) or tissue (made from heart tissue from a cow or pig), are inserted during either open-heart surgery or a minimally invasive procedure. The best option for each person depends on age and other factors.
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Pinak B. Shah, MD, Contributor
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