What To Expect Of The Day Of Surgery
You should prepare to stay in the hospital for approximately seven days after your surgery. It is helpful to have someone at the hospital for support for some of this time.
After you check-in, you will go to a preoperative area where you will be instructed to change into a hospital gown.
You will meet with a member of the anesthesia team and surgical team to go over the procedure and sign consent forms. You may be asked to provide a urine specimen.
Intravenous access is started in the pre-operative area. This will be used for anesthesia, antibiotics, and blood products.
Heart Valve Repair Or Replacement Surgery
The heart is a pump made of muscle tissue. It has 4 pumping chambers: 2 upper chambers, called atria, and 2 lower chambers, called ventricles. Valves between each of the heart’s pumping chambers keep blood flowing forward through the heart.
- Tricuspid valve. Located between the right atrium and the right ventricle
- Pulmonary valve. Located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery
- Mitral valve. Located between the left atrium and the left ventricle
- Aortic valve. Located between the left ventricle and the aorta
When valves are damaged or diseased and do not work the way they should they may need to be repaired or replaced. Conditions that may cause heart valve dysfunction are valve stenosis and valve regurgitation .
When one valve becomes stenotic , the heart has to work harder to pump the blood through the valve. Valves can become narrow and stiff from infection and aging. If one or more valves become leaky, blood leaks backwards, which means less blood is pumped in the right direction. Based on your symptoms and the overall condition of your heart, your healthcare provider may decide that the diseased valve needs to be surgically repaired or replaced.
Hear From Our Patients
Greg Denning has never really liked going to the doctor, and for most of his life hes been an active person who was able to avoid significant medical care. That started to change one day when he was building a cabin in Wyoming. He started experiencing physical symptoms, like shortness of breath and fatigue, that made his wife worry, especially as his symptoms worsened over time. Then, during a routine physical, Gregs primary care doctor noticed signs of a heart problem and immediately sent him to a cardiologist. He was eventually diagnosed with a severe mitral valve leak that would require heart surgery.
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Mitral Valve Clip Recovery
This procedure lasts about two to three hours, depending on a patients anatomy. Afterward, you will spend about an hour in a recovery room, then move to a room where you will stay for one night . Most patients will typically go home the following day. This procedure has a quicker recovery time than open-heart surgery. However, it may still take several weeks to make a full recovery.
How Long Does It Take To Replace An Aortic Valve
The time taken for replacing an aortic valve is averagely 3 hours which can be more or less depending on the condition of the valves and the number of valves which have to be changed. The patient has to be at the Intensive Care Unit for at least 48 to 72 hours and needs a hospital stay of at least a week.
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Tips To Help You Heal
Keeping the following things in mind will help you heal after heart surgery:
Listen to your body, especially in the first two months after surgery.
The vast majority of your healing about 80 percent of it occurs during the first two months after your surgery. During this time, you will attend cardiac rehabilitation and continue to gradually increase your activity level.
It is very important to work on increasing your activity level before cardiac rehab starts because in most programs this will be six weeks after surgery. Youll want to do as much as possible, but you may find that you tire easily or need to stop and rest during activities that you used to do with ease. Listen to your body. Make sure that youre not pushing yourself too hard and risking injury or complications.
Follow your doctors recommendations.
When it comes to resuming specific activities, its important to listen to your doctor. For example, you may need to wait at least six weeks before riding a bicycle or lifting things because your breastbone needs time to heal. Talk to your doctor about when you can start driving again.
Be patient.
After the first two months, the rest of your recovery will probably move more slowly. The remaining 20 percent typically takes almost a year. During this time, you should expect to continue to regain strength and endurance.
Eat right and get active when youre ready.
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How long are you intubated after heart surgery?
The average intubation time after CABG was 14.93±8.63 hours.
How long does breathing tube stay in after open heart surgery?
In most cases, all tubes are removed in 24 to 48 hours. Chest Tubes/Pacemaker Wires: Chest tubes allow blood and fluid that form inside your chest to drain out. The tubes are usually removed the first or second day after surgery.
How long do you stay in ICU after open heart?
A person undergoing open heart surgery will need to stay in the hospital for 7 10 days. This includes at least a day in the intensive care unit immediately after the operation.
How can I improve my breathing after heart surgery?
Chest Breathing is an easy deep breathing exercise which you can do lying down. Inhale deeply through the nose, hold for three seconds then exhale through pursed lips. Repeat ten times. Coughing is also a breathing exercise that helps get rid of mucus from the lungs.
How much should I walk after heart surgery?
Most patients should be capable of walking at least 1 to 1.5 miles per day at one month after surgery. As you recover from heart surgery, walking represents the best form of exercise for you. You should consult with your doctor before taking up more vigorous forms of activity such as swimming or biking.
Does personality change after open heart surgery?
Personality and Emotional Changes
Is it OK to sleep on your side after open heart surgery?
What is the best exercise after heart surgery?
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What Did It Find
- Pooled data from 85 studies estimated that 89.7% of people survived for two years after surgery, 78.4% at five years, 57.0% at 10 years, 39.7% at 15 years, and 24.7% at 20 years. Subgroup analysis showed that five-year survival declined with increasing patient age .
- The average estimated survival after surgery was 16 years for patients aged 65 or less. This compares to a life expectancy of 22.2 in the comparative general US population. In those aged 65 to 75 median survival was 12 years , seven years in those aged 75 to 85 , and six years in those aged more than 85 .
- Structural valve deterioration was reported in 12 studies, including 7,703 people. There were 418 cases of valve deterioration during a median follow-up of 6.4 years, giving an estimated deterioration rate of 6% by 10 years, 19.3% by 15 years and 48% by 20 years.
- Eight studies reported 64 strokes among 6,702 people. This gives a stroke rate of 0.26 per 100 person years , or less than one per 100 persons each year.
- Two studies reported 21 cases of atrial fibrillation among 177 people. This gives a rate of 2.90 per 100 patient years , or about three per 100 persons each year.
- The average length of hospital stay in these studies was 12 days as reported by seven studies including 6,405 people.
Types Of Mitral Valve Surgery
Most patients who have mitral valve leaks are candidates for mitral valve repair or replacement surgery. The options are:
- Full sternotomy The surgeon will make an eight- to 10-inch incision down the center of your chest, then cut through the sternum to access your heart. Full recovery from this open-heart procedure can take several months.
- Transcatheter mitral valve repair surgery The surgeon will place a MitraClip® through a thin tube inserted into a vein in your groin area . This procedure is approved for high-risk patients who cannot get traditional surgery and failed optimization with medical management.
- Transcatheter mitral valve replacement surgery This has only been done on a small group of patients using a valve that was designed for aortic valve replacements. It is not approved for most patients. These procedures come with high risks and a person must have a very specific anatomy for them to succeed. Clinical trials are currently underway to test the effectiveness of mitral valve replacements using transcatheter replacement.
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How Many Valve Replacements Do You Do In A Year
If the number of replacements a surgeon does is similar to the number of repairs, then chances are that he or she is not a reference mitral repair surgeon. Reference mitral repair surgeons would generally repair well over 95% of valves they encounter. You can also ask your surgeon how many mechanical valves he or she does in year these operations are often done for degenerative disease which should have a high repair rate, so a surgeon who does a lot of mechanical valves is unlikely to be a mitral repair expert.
How To Prepare For Open
Tell your doctor about any drugs you are taking, even over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbs. Inform them of any illnesses you have, including herpes outbreak, cold, flu, or fever.
In the two weeks before the surgery, your doctor may ask you to quit smoking and stop taking blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen.
Its important to talk to your doctor about your alcohol consumption before you prepare for the surgery. If you typically have three or more drinks a day and stop right before you go into surgery, you may go into alcohol withdrawal. This may cause life-threatening complications after open-heart surgery, including seizures or tremors. Your doctor can help you with alcohol withdrawal to reduce the likelihood of these complications.
The day before the surgery, you may be asked to wash yourself with a special soap. This soap is used to kill bacteria on your skin and will lessen the chance of an infection after surgery. You may also be asked not to eat or drink anything after midnight.
Your healthcare provider will give you more detailed instructions when you arrive at the hospital for surgery.
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From Hospital Discharge To 6 Weeks
As you begin getting back into your routine, remember to start with small tasks and take plenty of breaks. Dont overdo it.
After you leave the hospital, unless your surgeon says otherwise, you may return to activities such as:
- Walking.
- Light cleaning.
- Climbing stairs.
Some things are still off limits, though.Dont lift, pull or push anything that weighs more than 10 pounds. Its too soon to drive, too, but its OK to ride in a car.
Preparing For The Surgery
Preparation for open heart surgery starts the night before. A person should eat an evening meal as usual but must not consume any food or drink after midnight.
It is a good idea to wear loose, comfortable clothing to assist with restricted movement following surgery, but wear whatever is comfortable.
Be sure to have all personal medical information on hand. This might include a list of medications, recent illness, and insurance information.
It is normal to feel anxious before an anesthetic, and people should not hesitate to seek reassurance from the healthcare team.
The doctor may request that the person washes their upper body with antibacterial soap. A member of the healthcare team may need to shave the persons chest area before they can have the anesthetic.
The doctors may also need to run tests before surgery, such as monitoring the heart or taking blood samples. A doctor or nurse might place a line into a vein to enable the delivery of fluids.
After the medical team has completed the preliminary tasks, the anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia.
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Will I Need To Take Blood
The need for anticoagulant medication after surgery depends on the type of surgery you have. The medication prevents blood clots from forming and causing problems with your heart valve. Currently, warfarin is the only approved blood thinner for mechanical heart valves.
If you have a mechanical heart valve, youll need to take this medication for the rest of your life.
If you have valve repair or a biological valve replacement, you may need to take this medication for several weeks after surgery, or maybe not at all.
You may need to take an anticoagulant for a condition not related to your heart valves. This medication also treats:
- An irregular heartbeat.
Doctors Tips To Achieve Faster Recovery
Anticoagulants Medicines: Patients who have undergone heart valve replacement surgery should take anticoagulants for approximately a few weeks post heart valve replacement surgery to avoid any dangerous blood clot, which may take place during the recovery period.
Diet to Follow during the Recovery Period: You have to include fiber and fruit in your regular diet to alleviate with the problem of constipation that may take place because of painkillers. Moreover, you should eat foods rich in various essential nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals to assure faster healing of your body.
Physical Exercise Routine: Doctors may recommend you following a regular exercise routine. For this, you should work with a good physical therapist, so that you may get a sound exercise regimen consisting of minimum level of workout you require. Moreover, you should make sure to avoid any strenuous exercise.
Regular Sleep Pattern: You should make sure to setup a normal/regular sleep pattern. This means, you should strictly avoid any nap or avoid intake of sleeping pills until and unless it becomes very much essential to do it.
Hygiene: Patients with heart valve replacement surgery should make sure to wash the surgical incisions daily by applying a suitable antiseptic soap and water. You may opt to do this while you take bath. However, you should make sure to intimate your doctor if you notice any sign/symptom of infection, such as redness or swelling in the wound/incised area.
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Who Is In Theater For Open Heart Surgery
A team of doctors and other health professionals work together in the operating theater during open heart surgery.
The team is likely to include:
- the lead surgeon who will direct others surgeons who will assist during the operation
- the anesthesiologist, who is in charge of giving and anesthesia and monitoring vital signs
- the pump team, also known as perfusionists, operate the heart-lung machine and other technical equipment that supports open heart surgery
- nurses and technicians, who assist the surgical team and prepare the operating theater for surgery
Surgery To Place Ventricular Assist Devices Or Total Artificial Hearts
A VAD is a mechanical pump that is used to support heart function and blood flow in people who have weak hearts.
Your doctor may recommend a VAD if you have heart failure that isnât responding to treatment or if youâre waiting for a heart transplant. You can use a VAD for a short time or for months or years, depending on your situation.
A TAH is a device that replaces the two lower chambers of the heart . You may benefit from a TAH if both of your ventricles donât work well due to end-stage heart failure.
Placing either device requires open-heart surgery.
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Mitral Valve Repair Recovery
After surgery, you will go directly to ICU. You will remain at the hospital as an inpatient for five to seven days while you recover.
After you are discharged from the hospital, you will need to rest and recover for three to four weeks at home. Your doctors will provide information on how much activity you can do, and when, to ensure a successful recovery. You will need someone to drive you home from the hospital.
Why Might I Need Heart Valve Repair Or Replacement Surgery
Valve repair or replacement surgery is done to correct the problems causedby one or more diseased heart valves.
If your heart valve becomes damaged or diseased, you may have thefollowing symptoms:
-
Dizziness
-
The repaired or replaced valve doesn’t work correctly
-
Death
There may be other risks depending on your specific medical condition. Besure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider before theprocedure.
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What Happens During Heart Valve Surgery
Heart valve surgery options include:
- Traditional or open heart surgery: An incision through your breastbone.
- Minimally invasive heart valve surgery: A smaller incision . Techniques include endoscopic or keyhole approaches and robotic-assisted surgery.
- Transcatheter: Your provider will put a catheter into a larger artery, such as your femoral artery in your groin, and do the work without making a cut in your chest.
Risks Of An Aortic Valve Replacement
An aortic valve replacement is a big operation and, like any type of surgery, carries a risk of complications.
Some of the main risks of an aortic valve replacement include:
- wound, lung, bladder or heart valve infections
- a temporarily irregular heartbeat
- reduced kidney function for a few days
The risk of dying from an aortic valve replacement is around 2%, although this risk is much smaller than that of leaving severe aortic valve problems untreated.
Most people who survive surgery have a life expectancy close to normal.
Read more about the risks of aortic valve replacement.
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