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Prosthetic heart valve

A prosthetic heart valve is an artificial valve, made of plastic, metal, or pig tissue, that is surgically implanted to replace a person's original heart valve. A person's heart valve may need to be replaced if it no longer works properly because of a birth defect or because of damage caused by a disease process or aging.

When a person has a prosthetic heart valve, he or she may need to take anticoagulants to prevent blood clots and may need to take antibiotics before certain procedures to prevent infection.

Author Jeannette Curtis
Author Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Editor Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Editor Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor Tracy Landauer
Associate Editor Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer Patrice Burgess, MD
- Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer Adam Husney, MD
- Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD
- Family Medicine
Last Updated May 25, 2007

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: May 25, 2007
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