Patient adapted valve selection: biological vs. mechanical heart valve replacement in aortic valve diseases

Abstract

Since the first aortic valve replacement performed by Harken in 1960, the operation of aortic valve disease by replacing the native valve with a heart valve prosthesis has become one of the most frequently performed procedures in cardiac surgery. For valve replacement there are biological (xenografts and homografts) and mechanical heart valve prostheses available. When choosing the most suitable prosthesis the limited durability of a biological prosthesis and the risks of lifelong anticoagulation for a mechanical prosthesis have to be balanced.In this article the indication for operation of aortic valve stenosis and aortic regurgitation are discussed first. Based on the literature of the last 2 years the advantages and disadvantages of mechanical and biological heart valve prostheses (xenograft, homograft and ROSS procedure) are discussed. In addition rarely used techniques like aortic valve reconstruction are presented.Due to the fact that a biological prosthesis has a durability of 12-15 years and the risk of bleeding complications under anticoagulation grows with increasing age, the choice of a biological prosthesis can be recommended from the age of 65 years. Results of long-term studies at to whether this limit can be diminished by using a stentless biological prosthesis have to be awaited.