Seal Heart Valve Replacements… Really?
I’ll never forget when I learned my options for a heart valve replacement.
Dr. Trento, the first surgeon I interviewed, briefly discussed the pros and cons of pig valves, cow valves, human donor valves (homografts) and mechanical valves with me. While I immediately understood the use of mechanical valves and homografts for aortic valve replacement, it took me some time to truly understand how pigs and cows provided a suitable alternative for a human heart valve.
Now, however, I am fully aware of the benefits that pig valves (aka porcine valves) and cow valves (aka bovine valves) offer patients requiring heart valve replacement surgery.
That said, I was somewhat surprised to learn that patients might have another biological option to consider in the future. According to a recent report in the Canadian Medical Journal (CMJA), researchers in Quebec will soon begin testing heart valves from harp seals to determine if they are suitable for use in humans.
This news was met with animal rights protests in Madrid, Spain. Protestors suggested that testing was “unnecessary and will serve only as a government propaganda tool to promote Canada’s sealing industry, which received a major blow on May 5th when Europe banned imports of seal products.”
Protests Against Seal Heart Valve Testing In Spain
Alternatively, the Canadian federal government projects that “a commercial seal valve market could generate substantial revenue for Canada, but heart valve experts involved in the project say the research could lead to more than just financial gain. If their theory is proven true — if seal valves do offer significant advantages over existing bioprosthetic valves — the research could result in prolonged and improved lives for sufferers of heart valve disease.”
Philippe Pibarot, the Canadadian research chair in valvular heart diseases, noted, “I’m optimistic that seal valves could be superior to bovine or porcine valves… The anatomy and structure of seal valves are different. Their valves are thicker with more elastic fibers. They have a more robust structure because they are designed by Mother Nature to survive harsher conditions.”
On one hand, that logic does make sense. On the other hand, it is going to take many, many, many years to clinically determine the safety and efficacy of seal valves as a surgical remedy for valvular diseases including aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation. According to the same report, seal implantation into the human heart is still 8 to 10 years away.
So, for now, patient options for valve replacement remain a pig valve, a cow valve, a human donor valve and a mechanical valve.
Keep on tickin!
P.S. To leave a comment, please click here.
About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This unique book integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of 78 former valve surgery patients to help patients and caregivers better understand the problems, the opportunities and the realities of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.
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June 30th, 2009 at 9:31 am
July 1st I will have a mitral mechanical valve and a ring on my tricuspid valve. Both were damaged by rheumatic fever. The Cox Maze procedure will be done in order to stop atrial fibrillation. If it does not work, wires will be left in place for a possible pace maker.
I am not afraid but rather excited to know that all future pain will mean I am getting better. The pain I feel now only means I am getting worse. My sister is my caregiver and we are both celebrating the future.
Thank you and all the others for sharing your life experiences.
Ann