Patient Health InfoCardiac Valve Surgery
When blood is allowed to flow backward through the valve and reduce the volume of blood moving forward, surgery is necessary. Valves direct the flow of blood through the heart in a forward direction. They function by opening to allow the blood to flow through and then closing tightly to prevent blood from flowing backwards. When blood is allowed to flow backward through the valve and reduce the volume of blood moving forward, surgery is necessary. These problems include stenosis of the valve, which restricts the blood flow through the valve and increases the heart's workload and valve insufficiency, which occurs when the valve parts don't close properly.
If your valves need to be replaced, there are several different kinds of valves that can be used:
- Mechanical Valves (synthetic materials)
- Tissue Valves (pig, cow or human donors)
- Homograft Valves (human donors)
After you have had your valve replaced or repaired it's necessary to protect it from infections. Symptoms of infection to watch for include:
- A Fever Over 100°
- Chills
- Sweating
- Joint Pain
- Weakness
- Fatigue
If you experience any of these symptoms, you need to contact your physician immediately. Generally, antibiotic therapy is instituted. Valve repair or replacement may be needed with or without bypass surgery.