Repairing the structural heart valve
Understanding Heart Valve Repair
What is it?
Your heart has four valves. These valves open to let blood pass through, then close to prevent blood from flowing back in the wrong direction. Heart valves can develop two main problems:
- Stenosis, or narrowing. This means that a valve does not open wide enough to let sufficient blood pass through.
- Regurgitation, or leakage. The valve does not close completely, so blood leaks through in the wrong direction.
Mild valve problems can be treated with medication. More severe valve problems often require surgery to enable the valve to work correctly.
How is it done?
There are many different types of valve repair surgery. Three of the most common are valvuloplasty, traditional heart valve surgery and minimally invasive heart valve surgery. In some cases, patients may require valve replacement surgery.
- Balloon valvuloplasty is used to treat stenosis, or narrowing, of the heart valve. A catheter is inserted through a large vein in the leg and threaded up to the heart valve. A balloon on the end of the catheter is then inflated to widen the opening of the valve. This allows more blood to flow through the valve.
- Traditional valve repair is a form of open heart surgery. Your surgeon will have direct access to the valves of your heart in order to make the required repairs. The surgery may involve widening the valve opening, removing calcium deposits, reshaping the valve, patching holes or removing sections of the valve that interfere with its operation.
Minimally invasive valve repair, including Robotic surgery, uses smaller incisions to repair your heart’s valves. Many of the same repairs that are done in traditional valve repair surgery can also be done in a minimally invasive fashion.The benefits of minimally invasive surgery include a smaller scar, less blood loss and a quicker recovery.Not everyone is a candidate for minimally invasive valve surgery. Your surgeon will determine if this type of surgery is right for you.
Risks
Your doctor will discuss the risks of these procedures with you. Some of the risks include the following:
- Bleeding
- Heart rhythm problems
Less common complications are:
- Heart attack, if a blood clot breaks loose soon after surgery
- Infection of the chest wound
- Kidney failure
- Stroke
- Reaction to the anesthesia
Heart Valve Replacement
Replacing a diseased heart valve
Understanding Heart Valve Replacement
What is it?
There are four valves in your heart. They open to let blood pass through and close to keep blood from flowing in the wrong direction. When heart valves become diseased, they can develop two main problems:
- Stenosis, or narrowing. This means that a valve does not open wide enough to let sufficient blood pass through.
- Regurgitation, or leakage. The valve does not close completely, so blood leaks through in the wrong direction.
In many cases, these problems can be repaired through surgery. But if a valve cannot be repaired it may need to be replaced.
Valve replacement surgery can eliminate the symptoms and health risks associated with valve disease.
How is it done?
Traditional Heart Valve Surgery
In heart valve replacement surgery, an incision is made in the chest to expose the heart. This procedure requires general anesthesia and the use of the heart lung machine to supply your body with blood while your heart valve is being repaired.
Your old valve is removed and a new valve is sewn into the location of your native valve. There are three types of replacement valves that may be used to replace a diseased valve:
- Tissue valves or biologic valves are made from animal or human tissue. They may be combined with artificial materials, too. They are more readily available than human heart valves, and like human heart valves, they don’t require blood thinners. Tissue valves generally last about 15 years, not as long as mechanical heart valves.
- Mechanical heart valves are made completely from man-made materials. They are very reliable and last much longer than tissue valves. Mechanical heart valves require that patients be on blood thinners permanently to prevent a clot from forming on the valve.
Risks
The risks of valve surgery, as with all surgeries, are related to the age and relative health of the patient. Following are some of the risks of valve replacement surgery:
- Bleeding
- Heart rhythm problems
Less common complications are:
- Heart attack, if a blood clot breaks loose soon after surgery
- Infection of the chest wound
- Kidney failure
- Stroke
- Reaction to the anesthesia