Various Surgical Implants

Biggest advantage of surgical implants is that the chances of their rejection, by the body, are almost zero. These days many artificial implants are available for tissues and organs. Here is a briefing about most common type of surgical implants available.

Heart Implants

Atherosclerosis often requires implantation. The disease damages the valves, blocks the arteries and hence oxygenated blood cannot reach the tissues and organs. Heart failure, rheumatoid fever or acute breathlessness may also require surgical implants. Most commonly used artificial valves are Bjork-Shiley valve and Starr-Edwards valve.

Artificial fiber grafts are available in case the arteries in the abdomen get blocked due to atherosclerosis.

The patients are kept on anti-coagulants in order to avoid any clotting near the valves or the grafts.

Some surgeons use valves of pig`s heart after chemical treatment in order to avoid immune reaction by the patients’ body. Research shows that valves from pig`s heart make consumption of anticoagulants less necessary.

Pacemakers are electronic devices placed below the skin of the chest such that they maintain a constant pace of the heart beat. Once placed well, the pacemaker can function for 5 to 10 years depending on the quality of the product. The device takes an hour to settle completely in the chest.

Using compressed carbon dioxide as a power source, several operations of heart are performed.  There is a major problem is preparing a completely artificial heart and perform its surgery. The problem is the search of an unending source of energy to run the heart without fail.

Though heart transplant are performed as the only resort to heart failure in some cases but success rate is very low.

Joint Implants

Artificial hips and knees are available. During surgery of an artificial hip, a plastic cup is set in the pelvic bone and the thigh bone is replaced with a metal object in order to bear weight of the body.

The artificial hip transplant requires a lot of skill to perform. Infection is a major complication with this type of implant. The set-up of the implant may become loose or it may become dislocated.

Implants are safe enough when performed with best quality accessories, by a skilled profession.