What is Heart Valve Surgery?

What do Heart Valves Do?

The four valves in your heart are made of thin (but strong) flapsof tissues that open and close as your heart pumps. They are there to make sure that blood flows through your heart the right was. Your valves work hard as they stretch back and forth with every heartbeat. 

Your heart has four chambers. Each chamber has a valve that acts like a door. The four valves open and close as they keep blood flowing through your heart the right way.

What are Valve Problems?

• Don't open enough; called stenosis.
• Don't let enough blood flow through; also called stenosis.
• Don't close properly and let blood leak where it shouldn't. This is called incompetence, insufficiency or regurgitation.
• Make heart work too hard and lead to heart failure.
• Prolapse. Mitral valve flaps don't close properly (more common in women). As pressure builds inside the left ventricle, it pushes the mitral valve flap back into the left atrium, which may cause a small leak.

What Causes Valve Problems?

• A small birth defect that's not repaired may get worse later in life and cause problems.
• Certain diseases can scar or destroy a valve.
• Aging can make valves weaken or harden.

What can be done?

• Yearly checkups with your doctor, medicine and living a healthy lifestyle may be all that's needed.
• In some cases, an operation may be needed to repair a damaged valve.
• Sometimes the valve must be taken out and replaced with a new, artificial one. Ask your doctor about the different kinds.

What is Valve Surgery Like?

With some heart valve problems, the best treatment is surgery. Your doctor will tell you more, but here are some facts:

• You'll be asleep during the operation. It can take 3 to 5 hours.
• After surgery, you'll go to an intensive are unit (ICU).
  Your family can visit you briefly in ICU.

What About Afterwards?

• After you leave ICU, you'll move to a hospital room.
• You'll be sore.
• To clear the fluids in your lungs, you must breathe deeply and cough hard.
• You'll be given medicine.
• You'll start to move and walk around more and more.
• You can eat normally and will fell better each day.

How can I Learn More?

• Talk to you doctor, nurse or health care professional.
• If you have heart disease, members of your family also may be at higher risk. It's very important for them to make changes now to lower their risk.
  

Disclaimer
Reviewed by Alberta clinical experts. Brought to you by HealthLink Alberta. Copyright.
This material is designed for information purposes only. It should not be used in place of medical advice, instruction and/or treatment. For more health advice call Capital Health Link at 780-408-LINK (5465) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In Alberta, call Toll-free: 1-866-408-LINK (5465)