The bovine valve that replaces my original aortic valve was not carved whole out of the animal and grafted into my heart (as this quote from the OP might indicate: "For example, faulty human heart valves are routinely replaced with ones taken from cows and pigs").
Rather bovine tissue was "grown" onto a fabricated supporting structure to form the valve.
Of course when stem cell research advances to the point that my own tissue can be grown onto the valve frame, the next valve might last longer than the projected 10 years that this beef flapper will.
But I do wonder whether Chimp heart tissue would be more compatable with human heart tissue, or whether it would just make me want to toss turds into public water fountains.
This message has been edited by Abshalom, 01-28-2005 14:00 AM
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