Abstract
All types of aortic valve substitutes (mechanical valves, stented, stentless, sutureless and transcathethral bioprostheses, homografts and autografts) are described. Ongoing problems related to aortic valve replacement are discussed (hospital mortality, structural dysfunction of implanted valves, thrombosis, paravalvar leak, prosthetic endocarditis, thromboembolic and bleeging complication).