What Surgical Technique Is Done During Valve Replacement Surgery?

: Admin : 2021-12-06

The heart is the most important organ that pumps nutrition-rich oxygenated blood to different parts of the body. A human heart has four chambers guarded by valves that prevent backflow of blood. A diseased valve causes stenosis or may remain open causing regurgitation of blood flow. Patients suffering from valvular diseases experience fatigue, dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, cyanosis and accumulation of fluid in lower limbs. Repair of heart valves by grafting prosthetic valves in place of diseased ones is called as valve replacement surgery. A double valve replacement is a surgery to replace both mitral or bicuspid valve and aortic value or the tricuspid valve, both located on left side of the heart.

What surgical technique is done during valve replacement surgery?

Patients suffering from different clinical conditions of heart like degenerative heat disease, congenital anomaly, infective endocarditis, old age with several comorbities such as diabetes mellitus or hypertension, complex intracardial infections causing lowered immunity suffer from valvular damage which needs a surgical intervention. A degenerative or rheumatic valve pathology causes stenosis, which disrupts normal functions of heart.

Patient is given general anesthesia prior the surgery. A median sternotomy is done by a cardiac surgeon. An incision is made through the rib cage and patient is connected to cardiopulmonary bypass that keeps the blood circulating in the body and ensures normal functions of lungs. Incisions are made across the aorta, within the heart chamber and the defective valves are removed and replaced by biological prosthetic valves. Doctor prescribes blood thinners post surgery to maintain a rhythmic flow of blood. Life expectancy of the diseased  increases upto twenty years post surgery.

Recovery is gradual, takes upto six weeks to six months before the patient feels  better, post surgery. Patients need to control high calorie diet, avoid excess of sugar or salt and fats. A healthy balanced diet with an active lifestyle improves heart health.