Heart valve surgery

Definition

Heart valve surgery is used to repair or replace diseased heart valves.

Alternative Names

Valve replacement; Valve repair; Heart valve prosthesis

Indications

Heart valvesurgery may be recommended for the following conditions:

  • Narrowing of the heart valve (stenosis)
  • Leaking of the heart valve (regurgitation)

Valve problems may be caused by infections such as rheumatic fever, birth defects, calcification, or certain medications such as Fen-Phen. Defective valves may cause congestive heart failure and infections (infective endocarditis ).

Convalescence

You will stay in an intensive care unitfor the first 2 or 3 days following the operation. Yourheart functionswill be monitored constantly. The average hospital stay is 1-2 weeks. Complete recovery will take afew weeks to several months, depending on your health before surgery.

Expectations after surgery

The success rate of heart valve surgery is high. The operation can relieve your symptoms and prolong your life.

The death rate averages 2% to 5%, depending on the heart valve. About 2 of every 3 patients who received an artificial mitral valve are still alive 9 years after the surgery.

The clicking of the mechanical heart valve may be heard in the chest. This is normal.

Risks

The risks for any anesthesia include:

  • Reactions to medications
  • Problems breathing

The risks for any surgery include:

  • Bleeding
  • Infection

The risks for cardiac surgery include:

  • Death
  • Stroke
  • Heart attack
  • Arrhythmia
  • Kidneyfailure
  • Temporary postoperative confusion due to the heart-lung machine

It is very important to take steps to prevent valve infections. Therefore, you may need to take antibiotics indefinitely, or before dental work and other invasive procedures.

Heart, section through the middle
Heart, section through the middle
Heart, front view
Heart, front view
Heart valves - anterior view
Heart valves - anterior view
Heart valves - superior view
Heart valves - superior view
Heart valve surgery - series
Heart valve surgery - series
Review Date: 5/30/2006
Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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