Aortic Valve Replacement
Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery at San Antonio
This surgery replaces a damaged aortic valve with a mechanical or biological replacement valve, reducing symptoms like fatigue, chest pain and breathlessness. You may need it if you have aortic stenosis (when the valve opening narrows, diminishing blood flow) or aortic regurgitation (when blood leaks back through the valve).
What Are the Benefits of Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery?
For patients with mild aortic valve problem symptoms, regular echocardiograms are recommended, usually every one or two years, to help monitor whether the problem is progressing. However, for patients with severe symptoms, valve replacement surgery is highly recommended. Without treatment, conditions like aortic valve stenosis or aortic valve regurgitation worsen over time and can often lead to heart failure.
Research suggests that untreated severe aortic valve stenosis carries a 25% chance of death within the first year after symptoms appear, increasing to 50% in the second year. Similarly, severe aortic valve regurgitation has a 25% mortality risk after five years following the onset of symptoms, rising to 50% after ten years.
Timely intervention and close monitoring are crucial for managing aortic valve conditions. With proper treatment, most people enjoy improved health and quality of life.
What Are the Risks of Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery?
When it comes to surgeries, there are potential risks. Individuals who have undergone heart valve repair, replacement, or damage are particularly susceptible to infective endocarditis—an infection of the valve. Additionally, potential complications include excessive bleeding from chest tubes, blood clots associated with mechanical valve replacements, stroke or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), valve deterioration for patients who have had biological heart replacement for a long time, arrhythmias and kidney issues. It is essential to note that older patients and those in overall poor health tend to face a higher risk of complications.
Who Is A Candidate?
You may need the surgery if you have aortic stenosis and are experiencing symptoms. People with severe aortic regurgitation are also candidates.
What Happens During Surgery?
The surgery may be performed as an open procedure through a large incision in the chest, or as a minimally invasive procedure done through several small incisions. Patients are put on a heart-lung bypass machine while the valve is being replaced.
What Are the Risks?
Patients may develop blood clots or breathing problems. Heart attack, stroke, infection, bleeding, heart rhythm problems, muddled thinking and post-pericardiotomy syndrome, which involves persistent fever and chest pain, may also occur.
To learn more, please call 833-271-0338. or Fill out a contact form and we’ll call you to refer a doctor.