A prosthetic heart valve is a surgical procedure to replace a damaged or malfunctioning heart valve with an artificial valve.
Prosthetic heart valve replacement is usually indicated in the following cases:
- Narrowing of the valve (stenosis), which restricts blood flow through the valve.
- Valve failure is when the valve does not close properly, causing blood to flow back.
- Infectious endocarditis, in which the valve is affected by a bacterial infection.
- Congenital heart defects in which the valve is not formed correctly.
There are two main types of prosthetic heart valves:
- Mechanical valves: Made of metal or carbon and last longer than biological valves. However, they require lifelong use of anticoagulants to prevent blood clots.
- Biological valves: Made from animal tissues (usually pigs or cattle) or human tissues. They do not require prolonged use of anticoagulants, but they may wear out over time and require replacement.
Prosthetics of the heart valve is a complex operation performed under general anesthesia. The procedure includes the following steps:
- The surgeon makes an incision in the chest and opens the chest.
- The heart stops, and blood circulation is maintained with the help of an artificial circulatory system.
- The damaged valve is removed, and a prosthesis is installed in its place.
- The heart starts up again and the function of the new valve is checked.
After prosthetics of the heart valve, patients usually spend several days in the intensive care unit (ICU), and then are transferred to a regular ward. The total recovery time is from 6 to 12 weeks.
The prognosis after heart valve replacement is usually good. Most patients experience significant improvement in symptoms and quality of life. However, like any major surgery, prosthetics of the heart valve are associated with certain risks, including:
- Bleeding, infection, and thromboembolism.
- Damage to surrounding structures such as the conduction system of the heart.
- The need for repeated surgery in case of valve prosthesis failure.
Patients with prosthetic heart valves should be regularly monitored by a cardiologist to monitor valve function and overall health. It is also necessary to follow the recommendations on medication, diet and lifestyle to maintain optimal functioning of the valve prosthesis.
