Question

The tissue valves (artificial heart valves) are taken from

• A. Cadavers
• B. Pigs
• C. Fashioned from pericardium of animals
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

All of the above

Tissue heart valves are usually made from animal tissue, either animal heart valve tissue or animal pericardial tissue. The tissue is treated to avoid rejection and calcification. Human valves from cadavers were transplanted into human patients, but there were problems in maintaining an adequate supply. Xenograft valves, from pigs, sheep, calves, and goats were transplanted into dogs in the early 1970s. Blood clots were not a problem, but durability and rejection needed to be tackled. Following work in rabbits, guinea pigs and rats, a biologically inert, functional and durable valve was produced by washing, denaturing and tanning processes. Such bioprosthetic valves, usually from pigs, have been used successfully in many human patients.

So, the correct answer is option D.