Heart Valve Replacement Surgery: Types, Procedure & Recovery

When one of the four valves (Tricuspid valve, Aortic valve, pulmonary valve, and Mitral valve) is not functioning correctly, you might suffer from heart problems. These valves are mainly responsible for flowing the blood in and out of the heart. Each valve has flaps that open and close during every heartbeat. If it is not doing so properly, the blood flow can be disrupted, causing distress.

Heart Valve replacement surgery is done to treat the heart valve problems such as:

• Stenosis (narrowing of the valve)
• Regurgitation (leakage in the valve that lets the blood flow in the opposite direction)

Overview of Procedures

The doctor replaces the defective heart valves in a Heart Valve Replacement surgery. The surgery can be done with minimally invasive or open heart surgery. However, the best course of surgery would be decided by the doctor, depending on your age, medical history, and many more.

There are generally two types of surgeries that take place:

• Annuloplasty
  Annuloplasty is a procedure to tighten, reshape, or reinforce the rings or annulus around a valve in the heart. Sometimes, the ring around the valve can change its shape and size. The ring widens or becomes leaky. It can be done as a minimally invasive surgery or open heart surgery, depending on the condition of the heart and other factors.
• Valvuloplasty
  Valvuloplasty is done to treat and fix the narrowed opening in the heart’s valve. In a narrowed heart valve or stenosis, the leaflets in the valve become thick, which does not allow the flow of blood. Hence, the surgery helps people with shortness of breath or chest pain. Valvuloplasty is also called – balloon valvotomy, balloon valvuloplasty, and percutaneous balloon valvotomy.

It is usually done to treat the following:

• Mitral Valve stenosis
• Aortic valve stenosis
• Tricuspid valve stenosis
• Pulmonary valve stenosis

If not treated properly, it can lead to complications such as irregular heartbeat & heart failure.

Pre-procedure Preparations

Before the surgery, our supportive & experienced doctors at Metro Hospitals will counsel you on the surgery. They will answer all your doubts and questions that you have. Doctors will advise you to stop eating and/or drinking before your surgery. Talk to your doctor about the following:

• Allergies or reactions you have/had to medicines
• If you can, take your regular medications before your surgery.

Ensure that you have people to look after you leave the OT.
You might also have to take off your jewellery, glasses, watches, or other wearables. Always carry loose clothes to the hospital. However, you’ll be given a hospital gown before the surgery. Also, the doctors discuss the surgery’s pros and cons before giving you a green flag after considering all the factors.

Benefits of the Procedure

It improves blood flow and reduces these symptoms. Having heart valve replacement surgery means a healthy heart.

You might need surgery if your heart cannot pump enough blood properly. If you feel heavy but have no symptoms or your condition is mild, a thorough diagnosis and proper medication might help you.

Heart valve replacement (Minimally invasive over Open Heart) surgery has the following benefits such as:

• Smaller infection risk
• Quick healing
• Less time in the hospital
• Getting back to your regular routine quickly
• Better success rate

Eligibility

Someone who feels or experiences any symptoms given below must immediately visit their nearest healthcare provider to get themselves checked.

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Depression
• Unexpected weight gain
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Cyanosis
• Fatigue
• Fluid retention

Who is Not Eligible?

People with the following are not considered a suitable candidate:

• Asthma (which might cause shortness of breath at times)
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Critical illnesses include kidney failure, stroke, major heart attack, multiple sclerosis, head trauma, active cancer treatments, HIV, brain tumour, Alzheimer’s disease, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, liver or another organ failure, and many more.
• Terminal illnesses such as dementia, motor neuron disease, and many more.

Even if you do not have severe symptoms, the doctor might suggest surgery, as it preserves your heart function and valves. Also, doctors might go for your heart valve repair surgery if they find it more suitable.

It is better to get yourself checked by the top & board-certified heart specialists at Metro Group of Hospitals and not be rational about your judgement. Trust your doctor and be transparent with all your past medication, health, and any other factor that might contribute to the condition. Your doctor needs to be aware of everything before they suggest any treatment.