But the valve flaps bulge backward a little when blood is pumped out of the heart.

In a normal heart, the two mitral valve flaps close completely, and stay closed, when blood is pumped out of the heart to the body.

If yeast begins growing on or in the area of the valve flap of the voice prosthesis, it may not close well enough anymore.

Thickened mitral valve flaps (leaflets).

The valve flap and valve seat may be made out of silicone, fluoroplastic, or may be treated with SilverOxide.

With mitral valve stenosis, the mitral valve becomes stiff or scarred, or the valve flaps become partially joined together.

In patients with a short device life, the use of a voice prosthesis with supporting magnets in the valve seat and valve flap has been proven to be cost effective.

A voice prosthesis has to be replaced regularly, because after a certain time, the valve flap of the voice prosthesis does not close properly anymore, due to yeast and other natural sediments.

For instance, repair is more successful if there is limited damage to certain areas of the mitral valve flaps (leaflets) or to the tough fibers that control movement of the mitral valve leaflets (chordae tendineae).