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Mitral valve replacement

Mitral valve replacement surgery is an open-heart procedure. The damaged heart valve is removed and replaced with a new valve. There are two types of replacement valve: a mechanical heart valve made from plastic or metal (shown above) or a bioprosthetic heart valve made from human or animal (usually pig) tissue.

Primary Medical Reviewer Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer George Philippides, MD - Cardiology
Last Updated February 9, 2009

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: February 09, 2009
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