Heart Surgery

What is heart surgery?

Heart surgery is a treatment option for valvular heart disease. When heart valves become damaged or diseased, they may not function properly. Conditions which may cause heart valve dysfunction are valvular stenosis and valvular insufficiency (regurgitation).

Reasons for heart surgery

When one (or more) valve(s) becomes stenotic (stiff), the heart muscle must work harder to pump the blood through the valve. Some reasons why heart valves become stenotic include infection (such as rheumatic fever or staphylococcus infections) and aging. If one or more valves become insufficient (leaky), blood leaks backwards, which means that less blood is pumped in the proper direction. The physician may decide that the diseased valve(s) needs to be surgically repaired or replaced.

Traditionally, repair or replacement of heart valves has involved open-heart surgery, which means that the chest is opened in the operating room and the heart stopped for a time so that the surgeon may repair or replace the valve(s).

Newer, less invasive techniques other than heart surgery have been developed to replace or repair heart valves. Minimally-invasive procedures in which the incision is much smaller often mean less pain post-operatively and shorter hospital stays. Valvuloplasty is another method that may be used to treat valve stenosis in some cases.

Possible risks associated with heart surgery include, but are not limited to, the following:

bleeding during or after the surgery
blood clots that can cause heart attack, stroke, or lung problems
infection at the incision site
pneumonia
breathing problems
dysrhythmias/arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)

There may be other risks associated with heart surgery depending upon your specific medical condition. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your physician prior to the procedure.

Online Resources
The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your physician. Please consult your physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.

To learn more about heart surgery visit PepinHeart.org

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