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Allograft vs Autograft vs Xenograft

Allo – Same species
Auto – Same person
Xeno – Animal (different species)

An autologous transplant uses a person's own stem cells. ... In a reduced-intensity allogeneic transplant, doctors suppress the recipient's immune system enough so the donor stem cells can take root, or “engraft,” there.

An autograft is a bone or tissue that is taken from a part of a person’s own body and transplanted into another. Often, surgeons will use a person’s own hamstring tendon to repair a damaged anterior cruciate ligament. Similarly, an autograft bone may be transplanted from a person’s hip to aide in a spinal fusion. Patients who undergo autograft procedures may experience increased postoperative pain from the second surgical (autograft) site. They may also require longer periods of rehabilitation.

The use of allograft is advantageous because there is no second procedure required to remove and transfer a portion of the patient’s native bone or tissue. Surgical time may be minimized, postoperative discomfort reduced and patients may be back to normal activities more quickly.

No Guesswork. With autograft, graft sizing is a variable that must be managed adding to the time and potential complexity of each procedure. Allografts are measured to match specifications requested by a surgeon for each case; therefore, graft size is known at the time of surgery Patients that undergo procedures using allograft may experience reduced surgical time, which may result in reduced operating room costs.

Xenograft: The transplant of an organ, tissue, or cells to an individual of another species.

Manufactured Mechanical Valve
These valves are made of strong durable materials. They are the most long-lasting type of replacement valve, and most of these manufactured valves will last throughout the remainder of the patients’ lifetime. But there is a catch though!

Patients who receive a manufactured valve will nearly always require a blood thinning medication throughout the remainder of their lives. The blood thinner will keep clots from forming, which is critical for the person with a mechanical valve because clots can lodge in the valve flaps or hinges and cause a malfunction. Clots can also break off and form into an embolism (traveling clot), which may move through the bloodstream and lodge into a vessel where it may eventually lead to problems like heart attack or stroke.

Donor Valve Implantation
A human donor valve is the least common choice and it’s most often used for someone who is suffering from an illness that affects the valve, such as infective endocarditis. A donor valve can be expected to last 10-20 years.

Tissue Valve (sometimes called ‘bioprosthetic’ valves)
Tissue valves are created from animal donors’ valves or other animal tissue that's strong and flexible. Tissue valves can last 10-20 years, and usually don't require the long-term use of medication. For a young person with a tissue valve replacement, the need for additional surgery or another valve replacement later in life is highly likely.

For each surgery in which the valve must be replaced, careful considerations should be given to durability and medication options and risks. The good news is that a well-performed operation has a high rate of long-term success. If at all possible, consider going to a healthcare facility with a strong valvular surgery specialty and a good track record in valve surgeries.

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