Heart Valve Replacemnet Surgery

[kashyap putra]

• Heart valve repair and heart valve replacement surgery  is required when a person has a valve defect or when damage is present. Learn  the different types of replacement and repair procedures and what they consist  of.
  
  
  The heart valves play a important role in pumping  blood through your heart. This one-way blood flow is controlled by the opening  and closing of flap-like doors that change the pressure on either side of the  valves. This is a timely rhythm that helps prevent the backflow of blood.
  The heart has four valves: tricuspid, pulmonary,  mitral, and aortic. All four valves are required in getting blood to where it  needs to go. If there is a problem, heart valve replacement surgery may need to  be performed.
  Heart Valve Repair Surgery
  Heart valve repair is performed to repair congenital  valve defects as well as mitral valve defects.
  Valvuloplasty: This surgery is used to strengthen the leaflets so they  can provide more support and help to close tightly. The surgeon will insert a  ring-like device that attaches around the outside of the valve opening.
  Commissurotomy: This surgery is  performed when a patient has narrowed valves. The leaflets are thickened and  may be stuck together. The surgeon opens the valves by cutting the points where  the leaflets meat
  Structural Support Repair:  Replaces or shortens the cords that give the valves support. These cords are  called the chordae tendineae and the papillary muscles. When the cords are the  correct length, the valve can close properly.
  Reshaping: This is where a surgeon may have to cut out a section  of a leaflet. Once the leaflet is sewn back together, the valve will be able to  close properly.<p>
  Decalcification: This is the  removal of calcium buildup from the leaflets. The calcium buildup can prevent  the leaflets from closing properly. Once removed, the leaflets can close  tightly.
  Patching: The surgeon will cover the holes or tears in the  leaflets with a tissue patch.<p>
  Heart Valve Replacement Surgery
  If severe damage is present, heart valve replacement  surgery is required. Valve replacement is used to treat aortic valves and  severely damaged mitral valves.
  When severe damage is present, the valve will need to  be replaced. Valve replacement can be used to treat valve disease that may be  life threatening. More than one valve may be damaged in the heart, so it may be  necessary for patients to have more than one repair or replacement.
  The two kinds of valves used for replacement include:
  Biological Valves: Biological  valves are made from animal tissue; this is called a xenograft. They may also  be taken from human tissue of a donated heart, in which case the graft is  called an allograft or homograft. In some cases, a patient’s own tissue can be  used for valve replacement (autograft). These valves are not as strong as  mechanical valves and may need to be replaced after 10 years. Because they tend  to break down faster in children and young adults, these types of valves are used  in elderly patients. Patients with biological valves usually do not need to  take blood-thinning medications. 
  Mechanical Valves: These valves  are made from materials such as plastic, carbon, or metal. Mechanical valves  are strong and can last a long time. Because blood can stick to the mechanical  valves and create clots, patients with these valves will need to be  administered blood-thinning medicines, anticoagulants, for the remainder of  their lives.
  References
  Montefiore Medical Center: Heart Valve Replacement/Repair  Surgery - http://montefiore.org/healthlibrary/centers/heart/prvsur01/<p>
  Mayo Clinic: Heart Valve Surgery - http://www.mayoclinic.org/heart-valve-surgery/<p>
  Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/science/medical/articles/66026.aspx#ixzz0i53Q7phL