The informed discussion guide

The Informed Discussion Guide

Surgical aortic or mitral valve replacement: Choosing the right valve for you

When moving forward with surgery, it's natural to have questions or feel overwhelmed as you begin to review your options. This Informed Discussion Guide is a tool to help you have productive conversations with your doctor as you consider the differences between mechanical and tissue valves and assess your goals following surgery.

This guide will take your health, values, preferences, and questions into consideration, which are important when seeking out the valve that's right for you. It will take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

Share your results with your doctor, so that in addition to age guidelines and your anatomy, your feelings and goals will be taken into account. Make a decision on the best valve for you, alongside your doctor.

Important Risk Information

INSPIRIS RESILIA aortic valve

Indications: For use in replacement of native or prosthetic aortic heart valves.

Contraindications (Who should not receive): There are no known contraindications with the use of the INSPIRIS RESILIA aortic valve.

Complications and Side Effects: The risks with the INSPIRIS RESILIA aortic valve are similar to risks with other heart valves, and include the following:

Heart failure
Leaking from the valve or areas around the valve
Improper opening and closing of the valve
Damage to red blood cells that can result in low red blood cell count
Heart lining inflammation
Heart infection
Abnormal bleeding or bleeding problems from using blood thinners
Clots from around the valve or other areas of the heart entering the bloodstream and blocking blood flow
Heart attack
Heart rhythm problems that may lead to the need for implanting a permanent pacemaker, a device that helps your heart beat in regular rhythm
Allergic reaction to the materials in the valve

These could lead to the need for reoperation to replace the valve, permanent disability, or death.

This is not a complete list of all the risks that can occur with heart valve surgery. Your doctor can give you more information about these and other risks. This information is not a substitute for talking with your doctor.

MITRIS RESILIA mitral valve

Indications: For use in replacement of native or prosthetic mitral heart valves.

Contraindications (Who should not receive): There are no known contraindications with the use of the MITRIS RESILIA mitral valve.

Complications and Side Effects: The risks with the MITRIS RESILIA mitral valve are similar to risks with other heart valves, and include the following:

Heart failure
Leaking from the valve or areas around the valve
Improper opening and closing of the valve
Damage to red blood cells that can result in low red blood cell count
Heart lining inflammation
Heart infection
Abnormal bleeding or bleeding problems from using blood thinners
Clots from around the valve or other areas of the heart entering the bloodstream and blocking blood flow
Heart attack
Heart rhythm problems that may lead to the need for implanting a permanent pacemaker, a device that helps your heart beat in regular rhythm
Injury could occur to the heart tissue or blood flow could be blocked
Allergic reaction to the materials in the valve

These could lead to the need for reoperation to replace the valve, permanent disability, or death.

KONECT RESILIA aortic valved conduit

Indications: For use in replacement of native or prosthetic aortic heart valves and the associated repair and replacement of a damaged or diseased ascending aorta.

Contraindications (Who should not receive): There are no known contraindications with the use of the KONECT RESILIA aortic valve conduit.

Complications and Side Effects: The risks with the KONECT RESILIA aortic valve conduit are similar to risks with other heart valves, and include the following:

Heart failure
Leaking from the valve or areas around the valve
Improper opening and closing of the valve
Damage to red blood cells that can result in low red blood cell count
Heart lining inflammation
Heart infection
Abnormal bleeding or bleeding problems from using blood thinners
Clots from around the valve or other areas of the heart entering the bloodstream and blocking blood flow
Heart attack
Heart rhythm problems that may lead to the need for implanting a permanent pacemaker, a device that helps your heart beat in regular rhythm
Allergic reaction to the materials in the valve or graft
Graft infection
Ballooning and weakening of an area in an artery
Blood collecting between the layers of an artery
Fluid buildup under the surface of the skin
Fluid buildup around the graft
Blockage of a blood vessel
New tissue growth on the graft
Enlargement of the graft

These could lead to the need for reoperation to replace the valve, permanent disability, or death.

CAUTION: Federal (United States) law restricts these devices to sale by or on the order of a physician.