Current status of prosthetic cardiac valves.

The majority of patients with acquired valvular heart disease have severe damage to valves which is not amenable to repair but can now be treated by valve replacement with an acceptable mortality and morbidity. The caged ball or disc valve is widely used and is proving clinically satisfactory for cardiac valve replacement. Thromboembolism is the significant complication. With improvement in technique the incidence of infection, detachment and other complications has been reduced.