1. Learn Which Valves Often Require Replacing
Two valves out on the left side of the heart typically work harder and therefore are more likely to need replacing than the valves on the right. These valves are called the mitral valve, which lies between the atrium and the ventricle (upper and lower chamber) on the heart's left side, and the aortic valve, which separates the left ventricle from the aorta. Some patients suffer severe damage to more than one valve and may need to replace two or more at the same time.
2. Mechanical Heart Valves Can Get Sticky
Mechanical valves are composed of man-made materials, such as metal, plastic or carbon. Once in place, these valves can work effectively for many years. However, blood tends to stick to them, creating blood clots in the narrow passages between the heart chambers and the arteries. Patients who receive mechanical valves must take anticoagulants, or blood thinners, throughout the remainder of their lives to prevent blood clots around the valves.
3. Biological Valves Often Don't Last
Biological replacement heart valves can come from animal tissue, donated hearts or from the patient himself. This type of replacement is short-term, with another replacement usually needed around ten years after the initial surgery. As a result, elderly patients with damaged valves most often receive this valve replacement procedure.
4. It's Literally Open Heart Surgery
The valve replacement procedure involves splitting the breastbone to reach the heart. Once the breast plate and ribs are pulled aside, the heart is attached to a heart and lung machine, which replicates the actions of the heart and lungs during surgery. The surgeon stops the heart and cuts open an area near the damaged valve to replace it. When the replacement is complete, the surgeon sews the heart closed around the new valve and restarts the heart. The surgeon removes the heart and lung machine and allows the body to resume its normal functions. He wires the breastbone together and closes the chest incision with stitches or staples.
5. Mend Your Heart Slowly
Recovery from valve replacement surgery can take a long time, depending mainly on the health of the patient before surgery. Most patients can expect to spend one week in the hospital, with about three of those days in an intensive care unit immediately following the procedure. Patients with jobs that require little physical effort can usually return to the office within six weeks. During recovery, contact a medical professional immediately if you notice chest pain, swelling or redness around the incision, rapid weight gain with swelling in the legs, fever of at least 101 F degrees or drainage from the site of the surgery.
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