A look at recent improvements in the durability of tissue valves.

BACKGROUND

The various uses of biological valves for either aortic or mitral valve replacement have recently increased because of the growing proportion of elderly patients requiring surgery.

RESULTS

The durability of recent xenografts has been reported to be over 90 % at 10 years after aortic or mitral valve replacement for elderly patients more than 65 years of age, and therefore the guidelines now recommend the use of bioprostheses for patients over 65 years of age. Bioprostheses are also recommended for valve replacement of the right side of the heart by several authors; however, no clear guidelines are available. Trans-catheter aortic valve replacement and percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation are promising procedures for high-risk patients, although evaluation of the long-term durability of these valves is mandatory.

CONCLUSIONS

This article will review the development of the tissue valve for valve surgery.