|
 | |||
  |
||||
Site FeedbackCardiac Valve Surgery
Suggested Links:
Description | Treatment Options | John Muir Health Capabilities
Definition
Surgical valve repair or replacement may be necessary if the valve leaks or becomes stiff. Leaking valves reduce the pumping efficiency of the heart. Symptoms of leaking or stiff valves include difficulty breathing, fatigue, and an enlarged heart. Sometimes irregular heart beats or palpations may occur.
Description
What goes wrong with a heart valve?
There are 4 cardiac valves: tricuspid, pulmonic, mitral, and aortic. The valves are smooth structures that allow blood to flow smoothly through the chambers of the heart. The valves open and close as the heart beats. The valves open to let blood into a chamber and they close tightly to prevent the backward flow of blood. The lub-dub sound that can be heard as the heart beats is the sound made as the valves close. Damage from a heart attack, infection, and the aging process causes the valves not to function properly. A scarred or thickened valve may not open fully. This is called stenosis (stiff). Stenosis increases the workload of the heart as it attempts to push the blood through a tight, restrictive valve. The heart chambers may enlarge as a result of the increased pressure needed to push the blood forward. Another valve problem occurs when the valve does not close completely and blood is allowed to flow backwards. This is called insufficiency or regurgitation.
Treatment Options
What can be done to fix the valve?
Operations to replace or repair poorly functioning heart valves are common procedures. This is done to improve the health and decrease the symptoms that occur with heart valve disease. A replacement valve can be either a tissue valve or a mechanical valve. The surgeon makes the decision as to what kind of replacement valve can be used to best correct the problem. Depending upon the problem, the valve may be repaired rather than replaced. The choice of treatment is based upon the individual and the degree or type of problem. Over the past few years, there have been great advances in the surgical treatment of diseased heart valves. The diagnostic tests the doctor orders help to identify the location, type and extent of your valve disease. The results of these tests, the structure of your heart, your age, and your lifestyle will help the cardiologist and surgeon decide what type of procedure will best correct the problem.
In traditional heart valve surgery, the surgeon makes an incision down the center of the sternum (breastbone) to get direct access to the heart. The surgeon then repairs or replaces the abnormal heart valve or valves. Often, the surgeon or the anesthesiologist (doctor who administers anesthesia during surgery) will use special echocardiography (TEE or Trans Esophogeal Echo) during the operation to monitor the function of the valve before, during, and after surgery. The surgeon may decide that the valve can actually be repaired rather than replaced. Valve repair allows the surgeon to fix your valve, often without the use of artificial parts. If the valve can be repaired, the surgeon may choose this approach.
John Muir Health Capabilities
John Muir Health has been offering cardiac surgery since 1972. Both medical centers have several full service cardiac surgery suites and expert surgical staff available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are 5 cardio-thoracic surgeons who are on staff at John Muir Health. Expert cardiac anesthesiologists are available at each medical center. The surgical support staff and the clinical staff are highly trained in all aspects of cardiac care.
[back to top]