Aortic valve replacements have been done since the 1960’s, and the techniques have improved over the years, with many now being done in a minimally invasive fashion. Over 250,000 such procedures are now done each year. In recent years, biological heart valves (usually harvested from a pig) have been favored over mechanical valves. However, a 2015 study done in Sweden may shift this preference. The study found that mechanical valves are much more durable, and less likely to result in the need for additional heart surgeries. The mechanical valves are made from materials like carbon and titanium and will last for the patient’s lifetime.

The study, reported in the European Heart Journal, followed 4,500 Swedish aortic valve replacement patients, and examined such issues as survival rates, incidents of stroke, and re-operation rates. Stroke risk was about the same for both kinds of valves, but the re-operation rate was less for the mechanical valves. The conclusion reached by the researcher was that “mechanical valve prostheses should be the preferred option for young patients.” It is unlikely this one study will put the matter to rest, since many physicians have individual preferences for using biological valves.