Heart valves (mitral, trisucpid, aortic and pulmonary) may become diseased and require replacement. Valve replacement is a surgical procedure in which the diseased heart valve is replaced by a mechanical or biological tissue valve.
It is most often used to treat aortic valves and severely damaged mitral valves.
PROCEDURE
Under general anaesthesia, with patient on cardiopulmonary bypass, the heart is opened. The diseased valve is cut away from the valve annulus (outer ring) and the artificial valve is sutured in place, the heart is then closed with sutures.
Mechanical valves are made from durable metals, carbon, ceramics and plastics.
In some cases, minimally invasive surgery can be done, using smaller incision. Robotic surgery is available at some centres.
DURATION
The surgery takes 2 to 4 hours, depending upon the number of valves that need to be replaced. Hospital stay is of 7-10 days.
RECOVERY
With mechanical valves, lifetime anticoagulant therapy would continue. Normal routine can be resumed in 4-6 weeks. Full recovery can take 2-3 months.
RISKS
- Bleeding
- Embolism
- Endocarditis
- Arrhythmia
- Stroke