Mitral Valve Replacement: Open

What is an open mitral valve replacement?

An open mitral valve replacement is a surgery to supercede a poorly working mitral valve with an artificial valve. The mitral valve is 1 of the heart'due south 4 valves. Information technology helps claret period through the heart and out to the body. The mitral valve lies betwixt the left atrium and the left ventricle. Your doc will replace your poorly working mitral valve with an artificial valve. This will ensure that blood can flow into the left ventricle and then flow out to the torso unremarkably, without putting extra stress on the heart. The surgery is chosen "open up" because it uses a traditional larger incision to expose the centre. This incision is larger than the incision used in minimally invasive mitral valve replacement surgery.

Oftentimes Asked Questions Virtually the Mitral Valve

Why might I need an open mitral valve replacement?

The procedure may exist necessary if the mitral valve is working poorly. Surgical repair of the mitral valve is often possible, merely sometimes the valve needs to exist replaced.

Mitral valve stenosis and mitral valve regurgitation (also known as mitral insufficiency) are two different types of issues that might need valve replacement.

  • In mitral valve stenosis, the valve is unable to open fully, and less blood is able to move from the left atria into the left ventricle.
  • In mitral valve regurgitation, the valve is leaky. Some blood leaks back into the left atrium instead of moving forward into the left ventricle.

These valve problems tin atomic number 82 to such symptoms as fatigue and shortness of breath. If these symptoms become severe, surgery may exist necessary.

Both mitral stenosis and mitral regurgitation can outcome from general aging of the valve. Other causes of mitral valve disease include:

  • Ischemic heart disease (coronary artery affliction)
  • Infection of the center valves
  • Heart failure
  • Rheumatic fever

What are the risks of an open mitral valve replacement?

About people who have an open up mitral valve replacement have a successful outcome, but there are sure risks. Your particular risks will vary based on your overall health, your age, and other factors. Be sure to talk with your doctor near whatsoever concerns that you have. Possible risks include:

  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Irregular middle rhythms
  • Claret clots leading to stroke or center set on
  • Complications from anesthesia
  • Connected leaking of the valve
  • Damage to nearby organs
  • Memory loss or problems with concentration

Certain factors increase the risk of complications, like:

  • Chronic illness
  • Other eye weather
  • Lung problems
  • Increased age
  • Beingness obese
  • Beingness a smoker
  • Infections

How do I go ready for an open mitral valve replacement?

Equally you programme for the surgery, you and your md will decide what kind of valve will work best for you. Your surgeon will replace your valve with a biological valve or a mechanical valve.

  • Biological valves are fabricated mainly from pig, moo-cow, or human centre tissue. Biological valves don't last as long as mechanical valves
  • Mechanical valves are human being-made. If you receive a mechanical valve, y'all will need to take blood-thinning medicine for the residuum of your life. Mechanical valves also take an increased run a risk of infection.

Talk with your doctor most how to prepare for your upcoming surgery. Remember the following:

  • Avoid eating or drinking anything subsequently midnight before your surgery.
  • Try to stop smoking before your performance. Ask your md for ways to help.
  • You may need to stop taking certain medicines before your surgery. Follow your doctor'southward instructions if you usually have blood-thinning medicines like warfarin or aspirin.

Yous may need to arrive at the hospital the afternoon before your operation. This is a proficient time to enquire whatsoever questions you have about the procedure. Y'all may demand some routine tests before the procedure to assess your health before surgery. These may include:

  • Chest X-ray
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Blood tests
  • Echocardiogram
  • Coronary angiogram (to assess blood menstruation in your heart arteries)

Virtually an hr before the operation, someone will give you medicines to assist y'all relax. In most cases your surgery will go on as planned, but sometimes another emergency might delay your operation.

What happens during an open up mitral valve replacement?

Check with your dr. about the details of your procedure. In full general, during your open mitral valve replacement:

  • A dr. will give you anesthesia earlier the surgery starts. This will cause you to sleep deeply and yous volition non feel pain during the performance. Afterwards you lot won't recollect it.
  • The operation will accept several hours. Family unit and friends should stay in the waiting room, so the surgeon can update them.
  • Your doctor will make an incision down the eye of your chest. To access your heart, your physician will separate your breastbone.
  • The surgery team will attach yous to a heart-lung car. This machine will act as your eye and lungs during the procedure.
  • Your surgeon will remove your current mitral heart valve and supervene upon it with a new valve.
  • The surgery team will remove the eye-lung machine.
  • The team will wire your breastbone back together.
  • The team volition then stitch or staple the incision in your pare back together.

What happens after an open up mitral valve replacement?

After your open up mitral valve replacement:

  • You will begin your recovery in the intensive care unit or a recovery room.
  • When you wake upward, you might feel confused at first. You lot might wake up a couple of hours later the surgery, or a little later.
  • Almost people who take mitral valve replacement notice immediate symptom relief subsequently their surgery.
  • The squad will carefully monitor your vital signs, such as your eye rate. They may hook you up to several machines so the nurses tin can check these more easily.
  • You may accept a tube in your throat to help you lot breathe. This may be uncomfortable, and you won't be able to talk. Someone will ordinarily remove the tube within 24 hours.
  • You lot may take a chest tube to drain backlog fluid from your breast.
  • Bandages will cover your incision. These tin can usually come off within a couple of days.
  • Y'all volition experience some soreness, only you lot shouldn't experience severe pain. If you demand it, you can ask for pain medicine.
  • In a twenty-four hour period or 2, you should exist able to sit down in a chair and walk with assistance.
  • You may perform breathing therapy to help remove fluids that collect in your lungs during surgery.
  • You volition probably exist able to potable the day afterwards surgery. Yous tin can have regular foods as before long as you tin tolerate them.
  • You may receive elastic stockings to help blood circulate through your leg veins.
  • You lot will probably need to stay in the hospital for around v days.

Later on you go out the hospital:

  • Brand certain yous accept someone to drive you home from the hospital. You will also need some help at abode for a while.
  • You will probably have your stitches or staples removed in a follow-up appointment in 7 to 10 days. Exist sure to keep all follow-up appointments.
  • You lot may tire easily after the surgery, but y'all will gradually outset to recover your strength. It may accept several weeks to fully recover from your surgery.
  • After y'all go home, take your temperature and your weight every day. Tell your doctor if your temperature is over 100.4°F (38˚C), or if your weight changes.
  • Ask your doctor when it is safe for you lot to bulldoze.
  • Avoid lifting anything heavy for several weeks. Inquire your medico about what is safety for yous to lift.
  • Follow all the instructions your healthcare provider gives you for medications, exercise, diet, and wound intendance.
  • Make sure all your dentists and doctors know near your medical history. You may need to have antibiotics before sure medical and dental procedures to foreclose getting an infection on your replacement valve.

Next steps

Before you hold to the test or the procedure make sure you know:

  • The name of the exam or procedure
  • The reason y'all are having the test or procedure
  • What results to look and what they mean
  • The risks and benefits of the examination or procedure
  • What the possible side effects or complications are
  • When and where you are to take the examination or procedure
  • Who will do the test or procedure and what that person's qualifications are
  • What would  happen if you did not have the test or procedure
  • Any alternative tests or procedures to think about
  • When and how will you lot become the results
  • Who to telephone call after the test or procedure if yous take questions or problems
  • How much will you take to pay for the exam or procedure
James Gammie, M.D. - mitral valve repair

New Co-Director Appointed to the Johns Hopkins Heart and Vascular Plant

James Gammie, Chiliad.D., has joined The Johns Hopkins Middle and Vascular Institute as a co-director and surgical lead. Dr. Gammie is an expert in mitral valve repair and performs over 200 procedures each year, and is a entrepreneur who has launched iv companies — brings that enthusiasm and spirit of innovation to Johns Hopkins.