What is Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
The heart valve replacement surgery is a procedure of replacing a damaged or diseased valve of the heart for the treatment of a heart valve disease. Valvular heart disease occurs when one or more of the four valves of the heart do not function properly. The four valves of the heart are the mitral valve, aortic valve, pulmonary valve, and tricuspid valve. The valves help the blood flow in the correct direction through the heart.
Each valve consists of flaps, known as leaflets for the tricuspid and mitral valves and cusps for the pulmonary and aortic valves. These flaps should ideally open and close once per heartbeat. But when these valves do not open or close properly, the blood flow through the heart to the body is disrupted. The heart valve replacement surgery can be performed as open-heart surgery or a minimally invasive type of heart surgery, depending on the age of the patient, severity of the condition, and overall health status of the patient.
In this article, we will be discussing heart valve replacement surgery.
- What are the different types of Heart Valve Replacements?
- What are the different types of Heart Valve Replacement Surgeries?
- What is the purpose of Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
- What are the symptoms that indicate the need for a Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
- What is the diagnostic procedure before Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
- What is the preparation for a Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
- What is the procedure of Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
- How to care after Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
- What are the risks of Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
- How to prevent Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
- What is the cost of Heart Valve Replacement Surgery in India?
What are the different types of Heart Valve Replacements?
The two different types of heart valve replacements are:
- Mechanical valves:
- They are artificial components having the same purpose as a natural heart valve.
- They are made up of polyester and carbon materials that can be tolerated well by the human body.
- Mechanical valves can last for 10 to 20 years.
- One of the complications associated with mechanical valves is blood clot (a mass of blood) formation.
- A person needs to take blood-thinning medications for the rest of his/her life on receiving a mechanical heart valve to reduce the chances of developing a stroke (a condition in which the blood supply to the brain is stopped)
- Biologic valves:
- These valves are created from animal or human tissue.
- They can be of the following types:
- Homograft or allograft: It is made of tissue that is taken from a donor human heart.
- Porcine valve: It is made from pig tissue and can be implanted without or with a frame known as a stent.
- Bovine valve: It is made of cow tissue and connects to the heart with silicone rubber.
- Biologic valves do not last as long as mechanical valves and may require replacement in the future.
- Biologic valves usually do not increase the risk of developing blood clots, and the patient does not need to take blood-thinners lifelong.
( Know more about- What is Aortic Valve Surgery? )
What are the different types of Heart Valve Replacement Surgeries?
Depending on the heart valve that is being replaced, the different types of heart valve replacement surgeries are:
- Aortic valve replacement:
- An aortic valve is present on the left side of the heart and acts as an outflow valve.
- Its main function is to allow the blood to leave the left ventricle, which is the main pumping chamber of the heart.
- When the aortic valve is damaged or diseased, usually due to stenosis (narrowing of the valve causing less amount of blood flowing to the heart) or regurgitation (the blood flows backward due to a leaky valve), it may require replacement.
- Mitral valve replacement:
- The mitral valve is present in the left side of the heart and acts as an inflow valve.
- The main function of the mitral valve is to allow blood flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle of the heart.
- A birth defect, infection, or degenerative disease may cause damage to the mitral valve, which can lead to the leakage of the blood back into the lungs.
- Thus, a mitral valve replacement may be required. ( Know more about- What is Mitral Valve Surgery? )
- Double valve replacement:
- The replacement of the aortic and mitral valve, or the entire left side of the heart is known as double valve replacement.
- This type of surgery is rarely performed, as the mortality rate is higher.
- Pulmonary valve replacement:
- The pulmonary valve allows blood flow from the heart to the lungs through the pulmonary artery.
- A pulmonary valve replacement is generally required in cases of stenosis. (Know more about- What is Pulmonary Embolism? )
What is the purpose of Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
A heart valve replacement surgery may be required in the following cases:
- Stenosis
- Regurgitation
The causes of a damaged or defective heart valve could be:
- Congenital (present at birth) defect
- Floppy leaflets or cusps (known as prolapse)
- Endocarditis (infection of the valve)
- Holes in the flaps
- Rheumatic fever (a bacterial throat infection)
- Aneurysm (dilation of the aorta, which is the main artery of the heart, leading to the inability of the valves to close tightly) ( Know more about- What is Brain Aneurysm surgery? )
- High blood pressure ( Know more about- What is Hypertension? )
- Tumors
- Certain types of medications
- Radiation therapy (for treatment of cancer)
- Chronic (long-term) inflammatory diseases ( Know more about- What is Cardioversion? )
- Increase in age
What are the symptoms that indicate the need for a Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
The following symptoms may indicate a valvular heart disease, which may require a heart valve replacement surgery:
- Dizziness ( Know more about- What is Dizziness? Home remedies for Dizziness? )
- Fatigue
- Lightheadedness
- Cyanosis (grey or blue-colored skin, lips, or nails)
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Retention of fluid (especially in the lower legs)
What is the diagnostic procedure before Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
- Physical examination: The doctor will examine you physically and note your symptoms, medical history, and family history.
- Blood tests: These tests help in checking the levels of the various blood parameters and if there is an underlying medical disorder like diabetes or thyroid problems.
- Urine tests: It helps in checking for the presence of infections.
- Echocardiogram: Sound waves are used to create pictures of the heart in motion in this procedure. It helps the doctor to check how the blood flows through the heart and heart valves. ( Know more about- What is Echocardiography? )
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): This test helps in measuring the heart’s electrical activity and diagnosis of heart diseases, abnormal heart rhythms, and enlarged heart chambers.
- Chest x-ray: It helps the doctor in checking if the heart is enlarged if there is any swelling in the aorta or calcium buildup in the valves.
- CT scan and MRI scan: These are imaging tests done to obtain clear images of the heart.
- Stress test: The doctor checks the symptoms of the patient during physical activity or by giving some medications.
- Coronary angiogram: A dye is injected into a thin tube, known as a catheter, that is inserted through a blood vessel in the groin or arm region into an artery in the heart. This gives a detailed image of the arteries of the heart and how well the heart is functioning. ( Know more about- What is Coronary Angiography? )
What is the preparation for a Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
- The doctor will explain the complete procedure to you.
- Tell your doctor about any medical diseases that you may be having.
- Your doctor should know about any medications or supplements that you may be taking.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, or you think that you could be pregnant.
- Tell your doctor if you have a pacemaker or any other cardiac devices implanted in your heart.
- You will be instructed to not eat or drink anything 8 hours before the procedure.
- If you are sensitive or allergic to any medications, latex, tape, iodine, or anesthetic agents, inform your doctor about the same.
- The doctor may tell you to stop taking blood-thinners like aspirin and warfarin a couple of days before the procedure.
- Quit smoking as soon as possible.
What is the procedure of Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
The heart valve replacement surgery can be carried out in the following different ways:
- Open heart surgery:
- The procedure is generally performed under general anesthesia (the patient is put to sleep during the procedure).
- A six-to-eight-inch opening is made in the chest region.
- The breastbone is split open.
- A heart-lung bypass machine takes over the function of pumping blood, while the heart stops functioning. ( Know more about- What is Heart Bypass Surgery? )
- The damaged valve is removed and replaced by a mechanical or biological valve.
- The heart is restarted and the chest is closed up using sutures or stitches.
- The procedure takes about two to four hours to complete.
- Minimally invasive procedure:
- The surgeon makes small incisions (cuts) of approximately 2 to 4 inches size, without the opening of the entire chest.
- The incisions are usually made in a J-shape.
- The damaged heart valve is then replaced.
- Minimally-invasive surgery is preferred over open-heart surgery, as it causes less trauma, less pain, less bleeding, and has a quick recovery.
How to care after Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
- The patient usually stays in the ICU for a few days after the procedure, where the vital parameters of the patient are monitored closely.
- The patient will then be moved to a regular hospital room once intensive care monitoring is not required.
- You will most likely be in the hospital for three to ten days after the procedure.
- It is normal to have some pain, soreness, swelling, and bruising after the procedure.
- You may be given pain-relieving medications to relieve your pain and discomfort after the surgery.
- Follow-up appointments with your doctor are a must. The doctor may order lab tests like x-rays, ECG, or echocardiogram to check the healing during the follow-up appointments.
- In case of a mechanical valve placement, the doctor will prescribe blood-thinning medications to be taken for the rest of your life. Periodic blood tests are recommended to monitor the dosage of these medications. ( Know more about- Home remedies for High Cholesterol )
- The breastbone takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal, but complete recovery may take approximately 3 months.
- The doctor may suggest cardiac rehab or an exercise program to help you recover quickly.
- Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous physical activities for a couple of weeks after the procedure.
- You may return to work in 6 to 8 weeks if you have a desk job. However, in the case of a job that requires physical activity, it may take up to 3 months to return to work.
What are the risks of Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
The complications of heart valve replacement surgery include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Blood clot formation
- Replaced valve does not work properly
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Lung problems ( Know more about- What is Lung Transplant? )
- Pneumonia
- Breathing problems
- Pancreatitis
- Arrhythmias (abnormal rhythms of heart)
- Death
How to prevent Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?
A healthy lifestyle can help in preventing valvular heart diseases and prevent the need of undergoing heart valve replacement surgery:
- Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet
- Manage your stress
- Exercise regularly
- Quit smoking
- Consume alcohol and caffeine in moderation
What is the cost of Heart Valve Replacement Surgery in India?
The total cost of heart valve replacement in India can range from around INR 3,00,000 to INR 8,00,000. However, many prominent hospital doctors in India specialize in heart valve replacement surgery. But the cost varies across different hospitals.
If you are coming from abroad, apart from the cost of heart valve replacement surgery, there will be an additional cost of living in a hotel and the cost of local travel. After the procedure, the patient is kept for seven days in the hospital and fourteen days in the hotel for recovery. So, the total cost of heart valve replacement in India comes from a total of INR 3,90,000 to INR 10,40,000.
We hope that we could answer all your questions regarding heart valve replacement through this article.
If you need more information about heart valve replacement surgery, you can contact a Cardiologist.
We only aim to provide you with information through this article. We do not recommend any medication or treatment to anyone. Only a qualified doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.
