Heart Valve Replacement
Heart Valve Replacement
What is it:

Heart valve replacement surgery is a treatment possibility for valvular heart disease. Once heart valves become broken or damaged, they'll not perform properly. When one valve becomes stiffed, the heart muscle should work tougher to pump the blood through the valve. If one or additional valves become leaky, blood leaks backwards which suggests that less blood is wired within the correct direction. Traditionally, repair or replacement of heart valves has concerned heart surgery which suggests that the chest is opened and therefore the heart stopped for a few time in order that the doctor could repair or replace the valve. Less invasive techniques are developed to switch or repair heart valves. Minimally invasive procedures create smaller incisions and mean less pain later on and shorter hospital stays

Before the operation:
  • Your doctor can justify the procedure to you and provide you with the chance to raise any queries that you just may need concerning the procedure
  • Allow your doctor to know about your all prescribed and non-prescribed medicines, herbal supplements or any other medications
  • Blood tests are performed assist to confirm a good donor match and assist to improve the probabilities that the donor organ won't be rejected
  • Diagnostic tests could also be performed to assess your lungs further as your overall health. These tests could embody x-rays, ultrasound procedures, CT scan and pulmonary perform tests. Girls could receive a diagnostic assay, gynecology analysis, and a x-ray test
  • Talk to your doctor regarding any issues you've got relating to the requirement for this operation, its risks, how it'll be done or what the results can mean
The operation:
  • Doctor will give you general anesthesia so that you will be asleep during the operation and you will not feel any pain
  • The healing site is cleaned with associate antiseptic. The doctor can create an incision down the middle of the chest from just under the Adam's apple to only higher than the navel
  • The breastbone is divided in half with a special instrument. The doctor can separates the 2 halves of the bone and unfold them apart to show the heart. In order to perform the valve repair or replacement the center should be stopped to permit the doctor to perform the terribly delicate procedure. Tubes are inserted into the center in order that the blood is wired through your body by a cardiopulmonary bypass machine
  • Once the blood has been fully amused into the bypass machine for pumping, the heart is stopped by injecting it with a chilly solution
  • When the heart is stopped, the doctor can perform the procedure by removing the unhealthy valve and fixing the man-made valve, within the case of a valve replacement
  • Once the procedure has been completed, the blood current through the bypass machine are allowed to reenter your heart and therefore the tubes to the machine removed. Your heart are appalled with tiny electrical shock to restart the heart
  • Once your heart is thrashing once more, the doctor can observe the heart to assess to perform of the heart and therefore the valves. Temporary wires for pacing could also be inserted into the heart. These wires is hooked up to a pacemaker and your heart is paced, if needed, throughout the initial recovery amount
  • The bone is rejoined and seamed in conjunction with tiny wires. The healing of the bone is seamed back along. The cut is closed with sutures. Tubes are inserted into your chest to empty blood and different fluids from round the heart. These tubes are connected to a suction device to empty fluids from the heart. A tube is inserted through your mouth into your abdomen to empty abdomen fluids and then bandage is applied
After the operation:
  • You will possibly have a tube in your throat in order that your respiratory may be motor-assisted with a ventilator till you're stable enough to breathe on your own. As you come to life from the anesthesia additional and begin to breathe by yourself, the breathing device is adjusted to permit you to require over additional of the respiratory. After you are awake enough to breathe utterly by yourself and to be able to cough, the respiratory tube is removed
  • You will run pain medication if you're pain and you must invite the medication before you become very uncomfortable. Your nurse can show you the way to hug a pillow tightly against your chest whereas coughing to assist ease the discomfort
  • When your doctor determines that you simply are prepared, you'll be stirred from the intensive care unit to a postsurgical unit or acute care unit. Your recovery can still progress. Your activities are bit by bit inflated as you get out of bed and walk around for extended periods of your time. Your diet are advanced to solid foods as you tolerate them
  • After going home, it'll be necessary to stay the surgical space clean and dry. Your doctor can offer you specific bathing directions. The sutures or surgical staples are removed throughout a follow-up visit
  • Inform your doctor if you have symptoms like fever or chills that will be a signal of infection or rejection, redness, swelling or harm, or voidance from the incision site and breathing problem
Possible complications:
  • Your wound could become swollen, red and tender to the touch. Ask for medical facilitate if you develop these symptoms. Your doctor could dictate you antibiotics otherwise you may have to possess the infected fluid free from your wound
  • Once your heart valve is replaced there is a chance of heart block
  • Other complications may includes heart beat, stroke, heart attack, bleeding after surgery, breathing problem and infection at incision site