Heart valve surgery is an open heart surgery which is performed by cardiothoracic surgeons to correct the inflow and outflow of blood through heart valves thereby aiding in smooth functioning of the heart. The main function of heart valves is to permit smooth inflow and outflow of blood. Valve stenosis is a condition which leads to narrowing of the valve hence the inflow of blood in the heart is affected. On the other hand regurgitation is a condition where there is leakage due to incomplete closure of the valve. Heart valve surgery can be categorized as a valve repair surgery or a valve replacement surgery. The choice between a valve repair and a valve replacement is made by an appropriate and detailed discussion between the consulting surgeon and the patient.
It is essential to understand the brief anatomy of the heart and its valves to understand the procedure and its benefits.
There are four valves in your heart. The job of each valve is to make sure that the blood flows through the heart in the correct direction. The heart has four chambers, two atria (upper chambers) and two ventricles (lower chambers). Blood has through pass through a valve before leaving each chamber of the heart which also prevents the backward flow of blood. Valves are leaf like muscular structures that act as one-way inlets for blood coming into a ventricle and one-way outlets for blood leaving a ventricle. Normal valves have three leaflets, except the mitral valve which has two flaps.
The four heart valves include the following.
- Mitral Valve – Located between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
- Aortic Valve – Located between the left ventricle and the aorta
- Tricuspid Valve – Located between the right atrium and the right ventricle.
- Pulmonary Valve- Located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery
During the normal functioning of heart when the heart muscles contract and relax, the valves of the heart open and close thereby letting blood flow into the ventricles and atria at alternate times. For example, the mitral valve is the “inflow valve” for the left side of the heart. Blood flows from the lungs, where it picks up oxygen, and into the left atrium. When it opens, the mitral valve allows blood to flow from the atrium to the left ventricle.
In congenital abnormalities of the heart or in patients affected with rheumatic fever the valves may not function appropriately and the problem of stenosis or regurgitation may affect the normal functioning of the heart.
Who needs a heart valve surgery ?
An individual who is clinically diagnosed with congenital defects of the heart valves or whose heart valves are affected leading to valve stenosis or valve regurgitation due to other diseases of the heart, could be a suitable candidate for the procedure. The consulting cardiothoracic surgeon does a thorough clinical examination guided by adjuncts like an Echocardiogram, ECG and Treadmill Test( TMT) to diagnose the condition and appropriately suggest a suitable treatment. Valve repairs are usually the first choice if the damage to the valves is not very severe and in case if the valves cannot be repaired they are replaced by artificial valves.
Is heart valve surgery necessary?
Individuals with valve abnormalities do not always require surgery but condition where heart is not able to perform its function of pumping blood actively and symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath become more evident it is advised to get the condition evaluated by a cardiologist or a consulting physician. Severe mitral regurgitation in the presence of symptoms of congestive heart failure is usually an indication for surgery.
Does heart valve surgery require anesthesia?
Yes, an anesthetist will administer general anesthesia before the start of the procedure.
What happens during a heart valve surgery ?
In most valve procedures the operating surgeon will make an incision down the middle of your breastbone to reach your heart. A heart-lung machine or a cardiac bypass machine is used to circulate blood around the body during the procedure. The affected valve is then accessed and a repair or a replacement procedure is performed.
The heart valve surgeries can be broadly categorized as ;
- Heart valve repair
- Heart valve replacement
What happens in a heart valve repair procedure ?
During the repair procedure which is usually conducted by an interventional cardiologist a “balloon valvuloplasty” is done where one end of catheter inserted inside the heart is blown to stretch the valve to remove the stenosis. In case of regurgitation a suture is mostly used to close the clefts of a valve to prevent leakage. Heart valve repair is usually the first choice of heart valve surgery.
What is a heart valve replacement procedure ?
An artificial mitral valve cannot work as well as a normal mitral valve. So your consulting doctor will likely recommend valve replacement only if it essential and if repair is not an option. During a mitral valve replacement the diseased valve is replaced with a new valve. The most common types of replacement valves are mechanical (artificial) valves or tissue (animal) valves. The decision regarding the type of valve to be replaced is based on the consultants evaluation of patients condition and the patient.
How long does it take to recover after a heart valve surgery ?
The length of the recovery depends on the patient and the existing conditions. It usually takes about 3 weeks to 6 months for a completely recovery. The patient is advised to take medications as suggested by the consultant and not do any kind of strenuous exercise or work that might increase the work load of the heart.
What are the risks associated with heart valve surgery ?
The exact risks of valve surgery vary depending on the person’s specific condition and general health prior to surgery. Younger, healthy people have a lower risk of problems while older people with other health problems have a higher risk.
In general, the risks include bleeding, infection and risks associated with anesthesia. Blot clotting may be caused by a new valve hence replacement always requires lifelong treatment with anticoagulant medication to prevent clot formation and lodgment in the heart. Occasionally infection might occur around the valve and valve replacement should be done again depending on the life of the artificial valve used to avoid any further complications.
What are the outcomes of a heart valve surgery ?
Repair of the heart valve usually is the preferred surgery for a valve problem. When the heart valve is seriously damaged, a valve replacement procedure may be recommended. The decision whether to repair or replace a valve is based on many things, including your general health, the condition of the damaged valve, the presence of other health conditions, and the expected benefits of surgery and a thorough evaluation of your existing medical condition by the consulting cardiothoracic surgeon. On average, it takes between 2-3 months to fully recover, but this can vary greatly as it depends on your individual condition.
How to find cardiac surgeons for heart valve surgery ?
Now you can find cardiac surgeons for heart valve surgery from different hospitals and destinations on a single platform, Hinfoways. You can avail opinions from multiple cardiac surgeons, get cost estimates for heart valve surgery from different heart hospitals, compare things and then choose a cardiac surgeon for heart valve surgery.
Find, reach and choose a cardiac surgeon for heart valve 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.
