Your heart is the chief primary pump of your body, its main function being to pump and circulate oxygenated blood all through your body and deoxygenated blood back to the lungs for removal. The heart is a pump, with heart valves that allow blood to flow in a single direction throughout the heart. There are four valves that determine the flow of blood through the heart. A heart valve is a kind of one-way door that can either open or close based on the changes in blood pressure.
What are the valves in your heart ?
- There are two atrioventricular (AV) valves, the mitral valve (or the bicuspid valve), and the tricuspid valve, which are located between the upper chambers (atria) and the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart.
- There are two semilunar (SL) valves, the aortic valve and the pulmonary valve, which separate the heart and the arteries leaving the heart.
What is the mitral valve ?
Out of these, the mitral valve is a 2-walled valve separating the left upper chamber (or atrium) and the left lower chamber (or ventricle) of the heart. If there is a defect in the mitral valve, this could be a possible indication for mitral valve replacement. The defect in the mitral valve can be either congenital (from birth) or acquired. Acquired causes could be varied ranging from infection (rheumatic fever) to trauma.
What are the methods of fixing damaged mitral valves ?
There are two main methods.
- Heart valve repair and
- Heart valve replacement.
What is a mitral valve replacement surgery ?
Only when the mitral valve cannot be surgically repaired, it is replaced. In surgical repair, the person’s own heart valve is used, whilst in replacement, an external heart valve (from an outside source) is used.
What are the types of heart valves used in mitral valve replacement surgery ?
Several types of heart valves may be used. These include biological tissue valves and mechanical tissue valves. Biological tissue valves are either obtained from animals (cows or pigs) or from humans. Mechanical tissue valves are derived from synthetic materials.
What is the procedure for mitral valve replacement surgery ?
The surgical procedure is performed under the influence of general anesthesia mostly. Mitral valve replacement can either be done by open surgery or by minimally invasive heart surgery. In open surgery, the surgeon will open your chest and heart in order to remove the damaged valve. Then, the new artificial (or prosthetic) valve is sewn into place.
How is mitral valve repair surgery different from mitral valve replacement surgery ?
In surgical repair, the person’s own heart valve is used, whilst in replacement, an external heart valve (from an outside source) is used. In repair, the surgeon will open your chest and heart in order to remove the damaged excess parts of the cusp of the valve and sew the edges together or tighten and shorten the cords that connect to the valve similar to making the door hinges work better. In case the valve is too enlarged, special prosthetic or annuloplasty rings can be inserted to narrow the valve and reinforce it.
What is the recovery time needed for a mitral valve replacement surgery ?
The expected recovery time after a valve replacement is anything between four to eight weeks, and is definitely shorter after minimally invasive surgeries.
What is the care to be taken after mitral valve replacement surgery ?
It requires a dedicated change in lifestyle and rehabilitative exercises to help recover full heart function. You will have to be put on anti-clotting therapy post surgery, in order to avoid clots forming on the new valve.
How to find and reach heart surgeons for mitral valve replacement surgery ?
Now you can find and reach heart surgeons from different hospitals and destinations on a single platform, Hinfoways. You can avail opinions and information from multiple heart surgeons, cost estimates for mitral valve replacement surgery from different hospitals, compare things and then choose a heart surgeon for mitral valve replacement surgery.
Find, reach and choose a heart surgeon for mitral valve replacement surgery on Hinfoways. Make an informed choice.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
