Heart valve replacement - surgery and consequences

Heart valve replacement is necessary for a number of pathologies of the cardiovascular system.

The purpose of the heart valve is to ensure proper blood flow. As a result of functioning during the contraction of the heart muscles, blood is supplied to the ventricles from the atria, then to the aorta and the trunk of the lungs.

Any violations associated with the operation of the valve and its destruction entail circulatory failures, which are fraught with more serious consequences.

Among them, acute heart failure and even chronicity of the process can be distinguished, which poses a serious threat to human life.

When are valves replaced?

Modern medicine is able to eliminate this problem with the help of surgical intervention. The subsequent installation of artificial valves is carried out by cardiac surgeons. If the operation is successful, then they function in the same way as natural ones. The health status of such patients is significantly improved and stabilized. However, it is worth noting that after such manipulations, patients should not relax, since the preservation of their health implies the obligatory observance of certain medical recommendations.

This category may include young people and children with pathology of the heart valve apparatus.

The operation can also be performed on elderly patients in whom these disorders were the result of coronary heart disease or chronic heart failure and arrhythmias.

Indications for the operation are determined on a strictly individual basis. This is due to the characteristics of each human body, including the state of the cardiovascular system. The same can be said about the correction of the lifestyle of patients after surgical treatment.

As the reasons that act as provoking factors that caused this pathology, there may be such heart diseases as:

• rheumatism;
• endocarditis;
• aneurysm;
• heart defects;
• heart attacks and others.

The cause of the disease largely determines the subsequent treatment.

Types of artificial valves

At the moment, artificial valves are of the following varieties:

1. A mechanical heart valve, the material of which is hypoallergenic plastic and metal, and its installation is carried out once and for the rest of your life.
2. Biological heart valve, the service life of which can vary from 5 to 15 years. In this scenario, a second operation is likely.
3. Donor heart valve, the use of which is extremely rare.

The further state of the patient's health is directly dependent on the type of valve.

Preparing for heart valve replacement surgery

Preparation for heart valve replacement surgery consists primarily in the psychological attitude of patients. Further actions are determined by such a criterion as the urgency of surgical intervention. If the patient has some time left, then an additional study is supposed to be carried out in order to predict the course of the operation and possible consequences. After that, specific recommendations are given by cardiac surgeons, which include certain physical exercises and taking medications.

Smokers on the eve of the operation will need to give up addiction:

1. This will make it possible to strengthen the lungs, preparing them for the operation.
2. This is justified by the fact that smoking contributes to the narrowing of the coronary artery, accelerates blood clotting, causing heart rhythm disturbance.
3. In addition, in this scenario, the amount of mucus entering the lungs increases.

All these prerequisites provoke the risk of postoperative consequences and complications.

valve replacement surgery

Replacing a heart valve through surgery is an open type of surgery: this process is quite complicated, but operations are performed frequently. In this area, specialists have accumulated vast experience, operating rooms are well prepared and equipped with all necessary equipment. As for the staff, in heart operations, regardless of the degree of complexity, not only an experienced cardiac surgeon and nurses take part, but also an anesthesiologist, and in some cases a resident doctor.

The process of surgical intervention itself consists in reproducing the following actions:

• administration of anesthesia;
• opening of the breast cell;
• connecting the patient to a heart-lung machine, which is designed to replace cardiac functions during manipulations;
• removal of the affected valve;
• attaching an artificial valve;
• turning off the "artificial heart";
• closure of the breast cell.

Immediately after surgery, patients are transferred to the intensive care unit, where their condition after anesthesia is monitored. After a day, patients are allowed to eat, after two they can rise and walk.

In the usual scenario, patients are discharged after surgery in about a week.