Cardiac - Valve Replacement
Traditional Valve Surgery
During traditional valve surgery, your surgeon makes a 6–8-inch incision down the center of the sternum, dividing it to provide direct access to the heart. The surgeon then repairs or replaces the abnormal heart valve or valves.
Valve Repair
During valve repair, a ring may be sewn around the opening of the valve to tighten it. Other parts of the valve may be cut, shortened, separated, or made stronger to help the valve open and close correctly.
Valve Replacement
If a valve can’t be repaired, part or all of the damaged valve and its supportive structures may be removed, and replaced with a mechanical or biological prosthetic valve. Mechanical valves are created from man-made materials. Biological (tissue) valves are taken from pig, cow, or human donors.
Tissue Valves
Tissue heart valves are usually made from animal tissues, such as heart valve tissue or pericardial tissue. The tissue is treated to prevent rejection and calcification. In some cases a homograft – a human aortic valve – can be implanted. Homograft valves are donated by patients and harvested after the patient dies. The durability of homograft valves is comparable to porcine and bovine tissue valves.
Mechanical Valves
Mechanical valves are designed to last for many years. It is uncommon that the valve would fail or wear out in the patient’s lifetime. There is, however, an increased risk of blood clots forming with mechanical valves. As a result, those people with mechanical valves must generally take anti-coagulant (blood thinning) drugs such as warfarin for the rest of their lives. Warfarin requires close monitoring of blood tests to decrease the risk of bleeding.
