ABOUT THE VALVE REPAIR PROCEDURE
In most cases, the valve repair surgery is an open-heart operation. This means that the surgeon opens the chest and heart to repair the defective heart valve.
How long the heart valve repair surgery takes depends on how much heart disease is present. Your surgeon will discuss this with you before the operation.
To highlight more information on the procedure, your doctor may suggest:
- Talking with different members of the surgical team, such as the anesthesiologist, surgeon, cardiologist, respiratory therapist, and nurses
- Discussing the details of the operation with family members
- Visiting the intensive care unit (ICU) where postoperative recovery may be needed
DURING THE VALVE SURGERY PROCEDURE
During the operation, the surgeon opens the chest to get to the heart and the problem valve. The patient will be asleep during the operation and will feel no pain.
Some surgeons may prefer to perform the surgery through a small incision in the breastbone (sternum) or under the right pectoral muscle in the chest - these are called minimally invasive procedures. During the majority of procedures, the heart will be temporarily stopped, and the patient will be put on a heart/lung machine that takes over the breathing and blood circulation.
With recent advances in technologies and procedural techniques, more cardiac surgeons are using minimally invasive procedures to repair heart valves. These procedures may potentially reduce pain, scarring, and recovery time. You and your doctor will decide if this is a practical procedure for your condition.
Depending on the heart valve defect the surgeon may perform one or several of these procedures as he or she repairs the heart valve depending on the nature of the heart valve defect:
- Resizing the valve by removing extra tissue
- Removing calcium deposits that may have built up around the valve leaflets
- Repairing the chords that control the movement of the valve leaflets
- Reattaching the valve to its chords
- Adding support to the base of the valve (annulus) by adding tissue or by sewing an annulus band or ring around the outside of the valve
AFTER THE VALVE SURGERY
When the heart valve has been repaired and the surgery is completed, the heart will begin beating again all incisions will be closed.
Following the surgery, the patient will spend some time in the intensive care unit (ICU) where the patient will be closely monitored to make sure there are no complications. Family and friends are usually to align with below as to not be presumptuous.
VALVE REPAIR PROCEDURE RECOVERY
In the intensive care unit (ICU), the staff will keep a close watch on the heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, and other vital body signs. The patient may feel a little uncomfortable because of all the monitoring equipment attached to them. The nurses will try to keep the patient as comfortable as possible. Friends and family are usually welcome to visit.
When intensive care monitoring is no longer needed, the patient will be moved to a regular hospital room. Typically, the patient will be in the hospital for 3 to 10 days, depending on how quickly they recover. Many patients are amazed at how much better they feel and how soon they can resume normal activities.
CHECKUPS AND MONITORING
After the patient is released from the hospital, they will have to see the doctor for follow-up visits. During these visits, the doctor may order lab tests, such as an echocardiogram, an X-ray, or an electrocardiogram, to make sure they are healing properly.
Checking the patient's weight every day is useful. Sudden increases in weight may be a sign that they are retaining water, which could be a warning sign. Be sure to ask the doctor about weight gain and how much is acceptable.
If the patient is taking anticoagulants, they may need to have regular blood tests to monitor dosage. The patient will usually go periodically to a hospital, doctor's office, or laboratory to have these tests done.
TIPS FOR CAREGIVERS
Make sure the patient takes his or her medications exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Don't stop administering medications or skip a dose unless the doctor tells you to do so.