Valves in the heart regulate the flow of blood, like gates or the locks of a canal. When a valve malfunctions and needs to be replaced, several factors need to be considered. The biggest is the age of the patient. Younger patients require valves that will

Valves in the heart regulate the flow of blood, like gates or the locks of a canal. When a valve malfunctions and needs to be replaced, several factors need to be considered. The biggest is the age of the patient. Younger patients require valves that will last for many years; they also tend to be healthy enough to withstand courses of supplementary treatment that are hard on the body. Older patients, on the other hand, are often too weak for such supplementary treatments and can make do with replacement valves that are less durable.