Aortic valve
Trileaflet valve that sits between the heart and the rest of the body
This one-way valve can become leaky or narrowed, leading to symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, lightheadedness or fainting
Surgical Replacement
The aortic valve can be replaced with either a tissue or a mechanical valve
Tissue valves
Advantage: Does not require life-long anticoagulation (blood thinning)
Disadvantage: Will wear away with time
Mechanical valves
Advantage: Long-term durability
Disadvantage: Will require life-long anticoagulation (blood thinning)
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