Heart Valve
Heart valves can become damaged by disease, deformities or congenital defects.
A cardiac surgeon can remove a damaged heart valve and replace it with a donor valve which is attached to the remaining tissue of the patient’s natural valve.
In heart surgery, donor heart valves, also named human allografts or homografts, have a special place compared to the use of mechanical or bioprosthetic valves. Especially for children, the fact that no anticoagulation is needed is a great advantage. The relative resistance to infections make these valves especially useful for patients who suffer from bacterial endocarditis.
Donor heart valves are soundless unlike the mechanical valves.
Based on BIS’s allocation criteria a suitable heart valve is selected for the patients on the waiting list.
BIS's ambition is to arrange transportation from the tissue bank to the transplantation centre one working day before the scheduled operation date.
Patient registration
Physicians who need a heart valve for transplantation purposes can register their patient online via the member section of this website.
They can also register their patient by filling out a “Heart Valve Recipient Information Form”. Only patients who have been placed on the BIS waitinglist can receive donor tissue.
Standard range
- Aorta Valves
- Pulmonary Valves
- Aorta patches
- Pulmonary patches
- Thoracic aorta
- Different types of veins (iliac artery, aorta bifurcation)
An extensive description of the various tissue types, including tissue code and service fee is available from BIS heart valve staff.
You can call (+31) 71-5795740 or send an e-mail: heartvalve@bisfoundation.nl
