Replacement heart valve

A replacement heart valve is made of plastic, metal, or animal tissue and is implanted to replace a person's original heart valve. A replacement valve can be implanted during an open-heart surgery or a minimally invasive procedure. These valves are also called mechanical valves or tissue valves.

A person's heart valve may be replaced if it no longer works properly because of a birth defect or because of damage caused by a disease or aging.