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. 2022 May 8;10(5):1095. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10051095

Table 2.

The classification and the advantages/disadvantages of heart valve replacements.

Types of Valves Definition Advantages Disadvantages
Mechanical valves
  • -

    made entirely from metal, pyrolytic carbon and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE or teflon).
  • -

    limitless supply;

  • -

    lack of structural deterioration.
  • -

    risk of thrombosis;

  • -

    requires anticoagulant drugs for life;

  • -

    not available in small size;

  • -

    possible mismatch with patients.
Bioprosthetic valves Autograft valves
  • -

    made from another valve within the patient’s own heart (such as the removal of the pulmonary valve to fix the aortic valve).
  • -

    not immunogenic;

  • -

    no risks of thrombosis;

  • -

    growth potential.
  • -

    high probability of replacement after 12 years;

  • -

    difficult to handle.
Allograft valves
(homograft)
  • -

    transplanted within the same species;

  • -

    from a deceased human donor.
  • -

    good hemodynamic profile;

  • -

    preservation of the morphology;

  • -

    no risks of thrombosis;

  • -

    low risk of infection.
  • -

    limited availability;

  • -

    lack of growth potential;

  • -

    decellularization weakens ECM;

  • -

    immunogenic response if decellularization not complete.
Xenograft valves
(heterograft)
  • -

    transplanted from one species to another

  • -

    derived from porcine aortic valve or bovine pericardium, implanted in humans.
  • -

    limitless supply;

  • -

    adequate anatomic structure;

  • -

    optimal biological properties.
  • -

    lack of growth potential;

  • -

    decellularization weakens ECM;

  • -

    immunogenic response, if decellularization not complete.
Polymeric valves Natural
polymeric scaffolds
  • -

    made by cross-linking, photo-polymerization, pressure casting, injection molding, 3D printing, etc.
  • -

    limitless supply;

  • -

    ease of shaping;

  • -

    polymers combination to meet specific mechanical properties;

  • -

    combination with stem cells to obtain a living graft.
  • -

    degradation by hydrolysis can affect mechanical properties;

  • -

    possible cytotoxicity of degradation products.
Synthetic polymeric scaffolds
Composite polymeric scaffolds

Abbreviations: ECM—extracellular matrix; ePTFE—expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.