When snow white's hunter used a pig heart to fool the evil queen, he was not totally in the wrong.
Pig hearts and human hearts and very similar in structure and function. Pig Valves, however, should not be used in patients. Even though the pig valve heart transplant has been around for over 30 years, it's cons outweigh it's pros. The process of preparation eventually add to the downfall of the method.
Pig valves are trimmed then fixed in buffered glutaraldehyde at high pressure. A pig heart valve is comprised of three main components: collagen, elastin, and glycosamino¬glycans (GAGs).Collagen fibers provide strength to the overall structure while elastin molecules give the valve elasticity. Finally, GAGs act as a cushion between the collagen and elastin layers.
Glutaraldehyde has been shown to sterilize the tissue and prevent inflammation. The problem is, glutaraldehyde causes faster deterioration of pig valves. Again, pig valves should not be used in transplants. Pig valves should not be used in transplants. The process used to create them involves them being fixed in buffered glutardehyde.Glutaraldehyde is found to sterilize and help prevent inflammation in pig valves.
The problem is, when the cells in pig valves are alive they are able to remove calcium, which act against the valve to stiffen and deteriorate it. Since the cells are made dead to insure there are no compatibility issues the valves cannot remove calcium. The glutaraldehyde process effectively adds calcium deposits to the valve, speeding up deterioration and leading to failures. Therefore pig valves should not be used in transplants due to the nature of their preparation.The risks of using pig valves in surgeries outweigh the benefits.
It has been shown pig valves only last 10-15 years due to deterioration. Because of this, pig valves should not be used in younger patients because they will need a new transplant soon in the future, which adds to the danger. It should also not be used in older patients. The risk of failure is too high, and though it could be easily accessed and fixed in younger patients, older patients would have a much harder time and have a much more fragile situation.Therefore pig valves should not be used in human transplant. Pig valves should not be used in human transplants.
Some say that they are beneficial because blood thinners are not required to keep smooth operation of the valve. Mechanic valves use blood thinners to keep blood from flossing inside them. This may be true, but the increased deterioration makes it necessary to have repeated surgeries. The mechanical valves, however, are extremely durable and rarely need repeated surgeries.
Others say that pig valves are better because they do not make clicking noises. This, even though t is true, is unimportant. The functionality of something is more important then it's appearance, or in this case sound. As long as the valve works properly clicking should not be a concern. In conclusion, pig valves should not be used in transplants. They are prone to deterioration, failures and stiffening, with their only pros being no needed use of medication.
Their cons outweigh their pros and therefor they should not be used.The process of preparing the valves add to the problem, as it causes stiffening and prevents deterioration. The valves only last around 10-15 years and are prone to problems. The only pros to using pig valves is that medication is not needed and they do notable clicking sounds like mechanical valves. As stated earlier, the sounds they make do not matter as long as they function. Pig valves also do not require the use of blood thinners, but in turn require replacement surgeries after the 10-15 years.
In the end, pig valves should not be used in human transplants.
