Is pig valve replacement a viable treatment for heart disease?

Pig valve replacement is a viable treatment for heart disease, specifically heart valve disease, according to the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. Heart valve disease happens when one of the valves of the heart doesn't open or close properly, which interferes with the proper circulation of blood.

One of the benefits of using pig valves, or the valves of cows or humans, in heart valve surgery, is that they don't usually require on-going anticoagulant therapy, according to the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. Taking anticoagulants is necessary with mechanical valves because of the risk of blood clots forming around them.