Pregnancy in a patient after mitral valve replacement with a porcine bioprosthesis

The course of two pregnancies in a woman, who had previously undergone mitral valve replacement with a porcine bioprosthesis, is reported. The present case suggests that porcine heterografts are to be considered as the most suitable cardiac valve substitutes in females of childbearing age, since anticoagulants are not needed, avoiding therefore the risks related to both an incorrect anticoagulation and to the recognized teratogenic effect of coumarin drugs.