Heart Valve Surgery: Repair and Replacement
The valves in your heart are an integral part of cardiac function. If there is heart disease or damage affecting the valves, repair or replacement will be necessary. The mitral valve and the aortic valve are the common cardiac valves to be repaired or replaced. Valve repair or replacement requires open heart surgery on a non-beating (arrested) heart during cardiopulmonary bypass (meaning a machine performs the functions of the heart and lungs while the surgery takes place).
Valve repair can be performed in some patients with severe cardiac valvular disease allowing the patient to preserve their own natural tissues while creating a normally functioning valve. Frequently a reconstruction of the valve using a combination of resection of excess tissue (to create a normal leaflet size and shape) and placement of a supporting ring around the valve (to create a normal opening size and shape) is necessary. Repair provides superior functional results and requires no long term medication but is subject to failure as the weakened cardiac tissues continue to age.
Valve replacement is the most common procedure for aortic valve stenosis or regurgitation and a mitral valve regurgitation or stenosis. The results are excellent with most patients resuming normal activity and living a normal life span. The surgeons at MountainStar Cardiovascular Associates perform valve replacements with either mechanical valves or with biological valves derived from animals, such as pig or cow valves or human valves harvested from organ donors. Mechanical valves carry the risk of blood clots, and though these valves will last a lifetime, a regimen of anticoagulation medications must be taken to reduce the risk of embolism and stroke. Biological valves do not pose a risk of blood clots, but these valves can wear out and have to be replaced again. Newer methods of processing and preserving biological valves have greatly enhanced their durability however. The great majority of patients will never require any other valve surgery.
The surgeons at MountainStar Cardiovascular Surgery are preeminent valve specialists and will discuss all of your options for valve repair or replacement during your consultation.
To find out if you are a candidate for freestyle valve replacement or valve repair, contact MountainStar Cardiovascular Surgery online or call us at 801-743-4750 today.