Blood normally flows through the heart in one direction because this flow is regulated by valves that act like one-way doors. Each valve is equipped with flaps that open and close in coordination with other cardiac functions, making for efficient blood flow. The American Heart Association reports that when diseased valves become damaged, surgical interventions can be attempted to restore cardiac functions. The type of surgery will depend on the type and extent of valve damage. Whenever possible, valve repair is preferable to valve replacement because there are fewer complications.
Infection
According to the Brigham's and Women's Hospital, all patients who have undergone heart valve surgery are at increased risk for infection of the valves. Before undergoing dental, urological or gynecological procedures, these patients must alert their treating doctors to their previous heart surgery so that they can receive prophylactic antibiotics. Minor trauma during these procedures gives bacteria access to the blood stream. Bacteria find abnormal and replaced valves a fertile breeding ground. The resulting valve infection is called endocarditis.
Surgical Failure
The American Heart Association lists surgical failure as a potential long-term consequence of heart valve surgery. In the case of the surgical repair of the mitral valve, the failure, if present, is detected soon after the operation during early postoperative follow-up. If the valve has been replaced by a biological artificial valve, failure is almost inevitable and long-term follow-up is necessary to detect any deterioration of the function of the replace valve.
Bleeding
The risk of bleeding is associated with the administration of blood-thinning medications after valve surgery. As outlined by the Harvard Medical School Patient Education Center, blood thinners are administered to patients with biological artificial valves for a period of eight to 12 weeks, and for life to patients who have received mechanical artificial valves. The patients needing blood-thinning medication are closely followed by their physicians through repeated blood tests to ensure that they are not overmedicated and thus at higher risk for bleeding. In fact, the Harvard Medical School Patient Education Center reports that approximately 1 to 2 percent of patients with artificial mechanical valves experience an episode of life-threatening bleeding per year.
