Treatment Details
VSports手机版 - How should I prepare for heart valve surgery?
You may have tests the day before your surgery. These may include:
- Chest X-ray.
- Echocardiogram.
- Electrocardiogram (EKG).
- CT (computed tomography) scan.
- Cardiac catheterization.
- Blood tests.
Check with your healthcare provider about which medications you can take before surgery. Don’t eat or drink anything after midnight the day of your surgery.
On the day of your procedure, wear loose, comfortable clothes and shoes that are easy to put on. If you wear a bra, you may want to bring one that’s easy to put on without raising your arms. The person who brings you to the hospital can hold on to these items for you during surgery.
Before your surgery, a healthcare provider will shave and clean the area where your surgeon will be working.
What happens during valve surgery on your heart?
During heart valve surgery, a provider will:
- Give you medicine through an IV in your arm or hand so you can sleep deeply and painlessly.
- Use the smallest incision they can for your surgery.
- Set up a machine to take over for your heart and lungs during surgery.
- Repair or replace your heart valve.
- Restart your heart.
- Close your chest.
Heart valve surgery options include:
- Traditional or open-heart surgery: An incision (6 to 8 inches) through your breastbone.
- Minimally invasive heart valve surgery: A smaller incision (3 to 4 inches or smaller). Techniques include endoscopic or keyhole approaches (also called port access, thoracoscopic or video-assisted surgery) and robotic-assisted surgery.
- Transcatheter: Your provider will put a catheter into a larger artery, like your femoral artery in your groin, and do the work without cutting your chest.
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How long does this procedure take?
Open-heart surgery for a heart valve replacement can take two to five hours. Repairs or minimally invasive procedures may take less time.
What happens after heart valve surgery?
After surgery, your healthcare team may move you to an intensive care unit (ICU) where they can monitor you closely. After that, you’ll be in a regular room. You may be in the hospital for five to seven days.
Machines connected to you will monitor your blood pressure and heart rate. You may have tubes coming out of your chest to drain fluids.
Your provider will encourage you to eat, drink and walk as soon as you can after surgery. You can start with short walks around your room or down the hall and increase your distance little by little.
Your provider may sign you up for cardiac rehab, a carefully monitored exercise program.
Risks / Benefits
What are the benefits of heart valve surgery?
Heart valve surgery can ease your symptoms, improve your life expectancy and help prevent death.
The potential advantages of heart valve repair vs. heart valve replacement surgery are:
- Lower risk of infection.
- Less need for lifelong anticoagulant (blood thinning) medication.
Valve surgeries, including heart valve repair and replacement, are the most common minimally invasive procedure.
The benefits of minimally invasive surgery include:
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- Lower chance of infection.
- Less bleeding and trauma.
- Shorter hospital stay.
- Shorter recovery.
- Improved cosmesis (appearance) and smaller wounds.
"V体育安卓版" What are the risks or complications of heart valve surgery?
Any surgery involves risks. Heart valve surgery risks may include:
- Heart attack.
- Heart failure.
- Abnormal heart rhythm — you may need a pacemaker.
- Stroke.
- Blood clots.
- Infection.
- Bleeding.
Risks are related to your age, other medical conditions you may have and how many procedures you have in a single operation. Your cardiologist and surgeon will talk to you about these risks before your surgery.
If you’ve had a valve fixed or replaced, you may be at a higher risk of getting infective endocarditis. But this can also happen with an unrepaired faulty valve. In certain cases, your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics to keep you from getting endocarditis from some types of dental work. You can reduce the risk of endocarditis yourself by taking good care of your teeth.
Recovery and Outlook
How long is recovery after heart valve surgery?
Heart valve surgery recovery takes about four to eight weeks. But your recovery time may be shorter if you had minimally invasive surgery or surgery through a vein.
The way you feel after surgery depends on:
- Which valve was repaired or replaced.
- Your overall health before the surgery.
- Which method your provider used to get to your heart (large incision, small incision or through a vein).
- How the surgery went.
- How well you take care of yourself after surgery.
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Caring for yourself after surgery
Recovery after heart valve surgery takes time. Be kind to yourself. Here are some tips:
- Go to your follow-up appointments during recovery so your provider can monitor your progress.
- Don’t take on more than you can handle. You can expect to tire easily for the first three weeks after surgery.
- Don’t drive for a few weeks after surgery.
- Don’t handle anything that weighs more than 15 pounds for the first six to eight weeks after surgery.
- Talk to your provider about when you can go back to work. It’s usually six to 12 weeks after surgery.
What is the survival rate following heart valve surgery?
A study found that people who were more physically active in the year after surgery had a lower risk of death than those who didn’t exercise much. The death rate ranges from 0.1% to 10% depending on the operation and a person's overall health.
When To Call the Doctor
When should I call my healthcare provider?
Contact your provider if:
Additional Common Questions
Is surgery better for me than medication alone? (V体育ios版)
Medications often help during the first stages of valve disease, but they don't work as well as the disease gets worse. You don’t need to wait until your symptoms become unbearable before you have surgery. In some cases, it’s best to have surgery before symptoms start. The decision to have surgery is a major one that involves input from you, your cardiologist and your surgeon.
Is a heart valve replacement major surgery? (V体育官网)
Yes, a heart valve replacement is considered major surgery. However, it may seem less intimidating if you have a minimally invasive type of surgery, which is common.
How long will my valve last?
The amount of time your heart valve replacement or repair lasts depends on several things:
- Age.
- Whether you have heart valve repair or replacement.
- The type of valve you receive (for replacement).
Mechanical valves rarely wear out, but they may need replacement if a blood clot, infection or tissue growth keeps them from working right. Biological valves may need to be replaced, especially if you’re younger.
Will I need to take blood-thinning medication (anticoagulants) after surgery?
The need for anticoagulant medication (blood thinners) after surgery depends on the type of surgery you have. The medication prevents blood clots from forming and causing problems with your heart valve.
- If you have a mechanical heart valve, you’ll need to take blood thinners for the rest of your life.
- If you have a heart valve repair or a biological valve replacement, you may need to take blood thinners for several weeks after surgery, or maybe not at all.
You may need to take an anticoagulant for a condition unrelated to your heart valves. This medication also treats:
- An irregular heartbeat.
- An enlarged heart.
- A weakened heart.
- People with a history of blood clots.
Can you lead a normal life after heart valve surgery?
Yes. Many people can return to the activities they did before they had surgery. Other medical conditions you have affect your life after surgery as well. Your life after surgery will most likely be different from those of other people you know. Everyone’s situation is different.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
It can be overwhelming to find out that you need heart valve surgery. But your surgeon will give you guidance. After talking with you, they’ll choose the best option for your heart valve surgery. Once you know what type of surgery you’ll have, you can rally your family and friends to help. You may not be allowed to bend and lift after surgery for a while. Ask people to help you with housework and meal preparation so you can focus on recovering. You can also prepare and freeze meals before your surgery so you can just reheat them while you heal.
Care at Cleveland Clinic (V体育官网)
It can be scary and overwhelming when something is happening with your heart valves. Cleveland Clinic heart specialists are ready to get you the help you need.
Last reviewed on 08/30/2024.
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