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    What Is Heart Valve Surgery?

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    BasemAlharbi
    Heart valve surgery is done to replace or repair heart valves that aren't working correctly. Most valve replacements involve the aortic and mitral valves. Heart valve problems make the heart work too hard, leading to heart failure.

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    What Is Heart Valve Surgery?

    Uploaded by

    BasemAlharbi
    35 views2 pages
    Heart valve surgery is done to replace or repair heart valves that aren't working correctly. Most valve replacements involve the aortic and mitral valves. Heart valve problems make the heart work too hard, leading to heart failure.

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    Heart valve surgery is done to replace or repair heart valves that aren't working correctly. Most valve replacements involve the aortic and mitral valves. Heart valve problems make the heart work too hard, leading to heart failure.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    35 views2 pages

    What Is Heart Valve Surgery?

    Uploaded by

    BasemAlharbi
    Heart valve surgery is done to replace or repair heart valves that aren't working correctly. Most valve replacements involve the aortic and mitral valves. Heart valve problems make the heart work too hard, leading to heart failure.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    ANSWERS

    by heart

    Treatments + Tests

    What Is Heart
    Valve Surgery?

    The four valves in


    your heart make
    sure that blood flows
    through your heart in
    the right direction.

    Heart valve surgery is done to


    Aortic valve

    replace or repair heart valves that


    arent working correctly. Most valve

    Tricuspid valve

    replacements involve the aortic


    and mitral valves. The aortic valve
    separates the left ventricle (your
    hearts main pumping chamber)
    and the aorta (the major artery that

    Pulmonary
    valve
    Mitral
    valve

    If a valve becomes diseased


    or damaged, it may need to
    be replaced with an artificial
    one like the mechanical valve
    shown here.

    carries blood to your body). The


    mitral valve separates the left atrium
    from the left ventricle.

    What do heart valves do?


    The four valves in your heart are made of thin (but
    strong) flaps of tissue that open and close as your heart
    pumps. They make sure that blood flows through your
    heart in the right direction. Your valves work hard as they
    stretch back and forth with every heartbeat.
    What are the types of valve problems?
    Heart valve problems make the heart work too hard. This
    can lead to heart failure. In some cases, valves:
    Dont open enough (stenosis).
    Dont let enough blood flow through (also called
    stenosis).
    Dont close properly and let blood leak where it
    shouldnt. This is called incompetence, insufficiency or
    regurgitation.
    Prolapse mitral valve flaps dont 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 thats not repaired may get worse
    later in life and cause problems.
    Aging can make valves weaken or harden.
    Certain diseases can scar or destroy a valve.
    What can be done?
    Yearly check-ups with your doctor, living a healthy
    lifestyle, or medication may be all thats 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 used.
    (continued)

    ANSWERS

    by heart

    Treatments + Tests

    What Is Heart Valve Surgery?

    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
    things you can expect:
    Youll be asleep during the operation. It can take
    3 to 5 hours.
    After surgery, youll go to an intensive care unit (ICU).
    Your family can visit you briefly in the ICU.
    What about afterwards?
    After you leave the ICU, youll move to a hospital room.
    Youll be sore and stiff from the incision.
    To clear the fluids in your lungs, you must breathe
    deeply and cough hard.
    Youll be given medicine.
    In a day or two, youll be able to sit up and start walking
    around.
    You can eat normally, though salt may be restricted.
    Youll feel a little better and stronger each day.
    After you leave the ICU, youll be moved to a hospital room where
    youll recover for a few days.

    HOW CAN I LEARN MORE?


    Talk to your doctor, nurse or other
    healthcare professionals. If you have
    heart disease or have had a stroke,
    members of your family also may be at
    higher risk. Its very important for them
    to make changes now to lower their risk.
    Call 1-800-AHA-USA1
    (1-800-242-8721), or visit heart.org
    to learn more about heart disease.
    For information on stroke, call
    1-888-4-STROKE (1-888-478-7653)
    or visit us at StrokeAssociation.org.

    Do you have
    questions for the
    doctor or nurse?

    My Questions:

    Take a few minutes to


    write your questions for
    the next time you see
    your healthcare provider.
    For example:

    Will my artificial valve


    cause problems?
    When can I go back
    to work?

    We have many other fact sheets to help you make healthier choices to reduce your risk,
    manage disease or care for a loved one. Visit heart.org/answersbyheart to learn more.
    Knowledge is power, so Learn and Live!
    2012, American Heart Association

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