?:definition
|
-
Cardiac valve prostheses manufactured using human or animal tissues. These valves may consist of whole cardiac valves taken from human cadavers (i.e., allografts) or from animals such as pigs or cows (i.e., xenografts); the prostheses are processed and may be mounted on stents. Biological cardiac valves may also be manufactured from tissue (e.g., pericardium, dura mater) usually taken from cows or horses. Biological cardiac valve prostheses may be configured in several sizes and types, depending on the cardiac valve to be replaced (i.e., mitral, tricuspid, aortic, or pulmonary) and the anatomic characteristics of the particular patient.
|