Aortic Valve Replacement
The aortic valve is replaced with a new valve. Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR) remains the standard therapy for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis due to a long and established track record of very low death and stroke rates and excellent long-term valve durability. Stanford's recognized cardiovascular surgeons have nearly 40 years of experience with outcomes that are superior to national Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) benchmarks.
Replacement valves fall into two categories:
- Aortic valve replacement with an aortic valve from a human donor or made from animal tissue. The valve leaflets are soft and thin.
- Aortic valve replacement with a mechanical valve made of metal, plastic, and/or pyrolytic carbon. Mechanical valves are very durable and have solid valve leaflets.
Patients who have undergone a valve replacement will need to follow antibiotic prophylaxis throughout their lifetime. Patients who have received a mechanical valve will need life-long treatment with coumadin, a medication that thins the blood to prevent catastrophic clots from forming on the valve leaflets themselves.
