Valve surgery

Overview :-

Heart valve surgery and interventions to repair or replace a heart valve that is not operating properly due to valve disease.(also called heart valve disease). Heart valve surgery is open-heart surgery through the breastbone, into the chest. This is a significant operation that may last two hours or more and often takes several weeks to recover. There are newer, less invasive procedures suitable for some types of valvular heart disease, but they are only done at certain hospitals.

Why it's done:-

The valves govern blood flow in a healthy heart by changing it in one direction through the heart and body. When a valve malfunctions, blood flow is disrupted, which has an impact on the delicate network of blood capillaries that transport oxygen throughout the body.

Your doctor can monitor your symptoms or prescribe treatment if you have a small valvular problem. If your disease is more serious, surgery to repair or replace the valve is usually required to prevent long-term damage to your heart valve and heart.

Surgery Procedure :–

There are various alternative ways for repairing or replacing valves, depending on the condition.

1. Surgical valve repair

Problems with the mitral or tricuspid valves are usually treated with surgery.

• Commissurotomy is a procedure for treating a clogged valve. The valve flaps (leaflets) are removed to slightly relax the valve, allowing blood to flow freely.

• Annuloplasty is a procedure that is used to repair a leaking valve. The annulus is a fibrous tissue ring that surrounds the base of the heart valve. Sutures are sewed around the ring to close the opening and fix an enlarged annulus. Alternatively, a ring-like device can be placed to the exterior of the valve opening to support the valve and allow it to seal more tightly.

• Valvulotomy is a procedure to enlarge narrowed heart valves. It's also possible to do it with the aid of a balloon.

2. Non-surgical valve repair

Percutaneous or catheter-based procedures do not require any chest incisions or the stopping of the heart. Instead, a catheter is put into a blood vessel in your groin area or arm and threaded through the blood vessels into your heart.

• Percutaneous or balloon valvuloplasty/valvotomy is used to treat stenosed or stiffened pulmonary, mitral, and aortic valves. The catheter's balloon tip is inserted into the constricted valve and inflated to widen the aperture.

• Percutaneous mitral valve repair methods -Edge-to-edge repair, for example, can repair a leaking mitral valve in a patient who is deemed high-risk for surgery. A catheter with a clip is placed into the groin area and into the heart's left side. The open clip is positioned beyond the leaking valve and then pushed back to catch the mitral valve flaps (leaflets). The clip holds the leaflets together and prevents the valve from leaking after it is closed.

During the procedure :-

During the procedure, you'll be given general anesthesia to put you to sleep. During the treatment, you'll be hooked up to a heart-lung bypass machine, which keeps blood flowing through your body.

Standard open-heart surgery, which entails piercing your chest through your breastbone, can be used to do heart valve surgery. The incisions used in minimally invasive cardiac surgery are smaller than those used in open-heart surgery.

Surgery performed using long instruments introduced via one or more small incisions in the chest (thoracoscopic surgery), surgery performed through a small incision in the chest, or surgery performed by a surgeon with the assistance of a robot are all examples of minimally invasive heart surgery (robot-assisted heart surgery).

In comparison to open-heart surgery, minimally invasive heart surgery may result in a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, and less pain. Minimally invasive heart surgery should ideally be performed at major hospitals with teams of doctors who are familiar with these methods.

Risk and complications :-

• Infection.

• Pneumonia.

• Pancreatitis.

• Breathing problems.

• Bleeding during or after the surgery.

• Arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)

• The repaired or replaced valve doesn't work correctly.

• Blood clots that can cause heart attack, stroke, or lung problems.

After valve surgery,

it's critical to take actions to lower your chances of developing another heart disease or requiring another heart surgery. You have a higher chance of having a valve infection after valve surgery (endocarditis). You'll need to take care to prevent infection, which includes maintaining proper dental hygiene.

The good news is that valve surgery problems are uncommon. If you have any of the following symptoms, which could indicate a cardiac condition, you should consult your doctor:

• Persistent chest pain which is not related to your wound (angina is rare, but possible)

• Irregular heartbeat or palpitations

• Persistent fever over 38 degrees Celsius

• Chills

• Rapid weight change (over 2kg in 24 hours)

• Dizziness or fainting

• Excessive tiredness or weakness

• Severe shortness of breath or shortness of breath which is increasing

• Nausea and vomiting

• Wound infection; signs include ooze, redness or swelling

• Weight loss or appetite change

• A cold or sore throat

Insurance Covered :-

The average length of stay - entails 8 days in hospital & 3-4 weeks to fully recover.

Doctors who perform VALVE SURGERY procedure :-