Heart valve surgery is a major surgical procedure used to treat valvular heart disease in which one or more of the four valves present in the human heart stop functioning properly. When any of these components fails to function properly, blood circulation and the network of blood vessels that deliver oxygen throughout the body are disrupted. Therefore, it is advisable to consult a heart and thoracic surgeon as soon as the initial signs and symptoms are noticed.
Since heart valve surgery is a serious operation with a recovery period lasting several weeks, it is important to be well-informed about the entire procedure before undergoing it. Here's an overview of what heart valve surgery involves, including the procedure, recovery, and possible complications.
The primary goal of heart valve surgery is to correct heart valve disease. The human heart has four valves, namely: the mitral valve, the tricuspid valve, the pulmonary valve, and the aortic valve. Each valve ensures that blood flows in one direction through the heart with the help of flaps (leaflets) and cusps that open and close during each heartbeat. When any of these valves stops working as intended, the condition is known as heart valve disease or valvular heart disease. In most cases, patients suffer from one of these heart valve disorders:
Some common signs and symptoms of heart valve diseases are:
Valve problems may be present at birth or develop over time. In congenital valve disorders the heart valves may be too small or too large, have malformed leaflets, or be improperly attached to the annulus. In acquired valve disease, problems with the heart valves may develop due to infection, rheumatic fever, endocarditis, or degenerative diseases. Other reasons for developing heart valve disease are:
In heart valve surgery, a heart surgeon repairs or replaces damaged or diseased heart valves. This process varies from person to person depending on several factors, such as their age, health, and the type and severity of the disease.
Traditional heart valve surgery begins with giving the patient general anesthesia. Next, an intravenous (IV) line is inserted into their arm with additional catheters in their neck and wrist to monitor their heart and blood pressure. During the procedure, the doctor keeps a close eye on the patient's heart rate, blood pressure, respiration and blood oxygen levels. After cleaning the surgical site, the surgeon makes an incision in the center of the chest to split the breastbone in half to expose the heart.
Before complex surgeries are performed, tubes are inserted into the heart so that blood can be pumped throughout the body using a bypass machine. Once the blood has completely moved through the machine, a cold solution is injected to stop the heart from working. In case of valve replacement the surgeon then replaces the diseased valve with an artificial valve. In aortic valve repair treatment in India, the procedure performed depends on the specific valve problem.
After the surgery is complete, the tubes are removed, and the circulating blood is returned to the heart through a bypass machine. Once the heart starts beating again, the cardiac surgeon monitors its valves to assess its functioning. The surgery usually lasts two hours, but depending on the number of heart valves that need to be replaced or repaired, it may take longer.
In addition to traditional open-heart surgery, minimally invasive heart surgery can also be employed, in which the incisions made are comparatively smaller, hospital stay is less likely, and recovery is quicker.
Recovery after heart valve surgery begins in the hospital and may take several weeks. After surgery, the patient is kept under close observation in the intensive care unit (ICU) for several days. If the patient is uncomfortable or in unbearable pain, so some pain-relieving medicines may be given. They may be given an IV drip to control blood pressure and control bleeding problems. As the condition stabilizes, they will be allowed to get out of bed and take longer walks. Therefore, patients may be unable to handle solid foods for some time, and hence, their diet is also monitored.