Discovered on 2010-06-12 05:39:12 · http://wcbstv.com/health/healthwatch.valve.replace Here's the problem: sick heart valves can be replaced, either with artificial ones or valves from animals. They work very well. Millions of Americans are walking around with them right now. But many of the people who need new valves are too sick for the surgery. Milton Rudin is an active and very sharp senior citizen. He walks every day and is a pretty healthy 91-year-old -- except for a problem that cropped up a few years ago. Rudin's heart itself was okay; it was a heart valve that was the problem. His aortic valve was stiff, calcified and not closing correctly. If not replaced it could be disastrous.
