What is a heart valve replacement?

A heart valve replacement is a surgical procedure in which a surgeon inserts an artificial valve to replace an original heart valve that is not working well.

When is it used?

Reasons for doing this procedure are:

• One or more of the valves in your heart may not open or close all the way.
• The valve may not be working well because it is scarred by disease or because it was abnormal at birth.

It is used only when:

• Medicines are not effective.
• Opening (balloon valvotomy) or repairing abnormal valves (surgical valvuloplasty) will not work.

How do I prepare for this procedure?

Plan for your care and recovery after the operation. Allow for time to rest and try to find other people to help you with your day-to-day duties.

Follow instructions provided by your health care provider. Shower and wash your hair with a special anti-infective soap the night before the procedure. You will not be allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight before the procedure.

What happens during the procedure?

You will receive a general anesthetic. This drug will relax your muscles, keep you from feeling pain, and put you in a deep sleep.

The doctor will make a cut (incision) in your chest and divide the sternum (the flat bone in the center of the chest). The doctor will connect you to a heart-lung machine, which will take over the work of the heart and lungs during the operation. The doctor will stop your heart and make a cut in it to expose the valve. He or she will remove the valve and replace it with an artificial one.

The doctor will then close the cut in your heart, restart your heart, disconnect the heart-lung machine, and close the incision in your chest. The doctor will leave some tubes in your chest to drain blood and fluid, which normally gather there or in the sac around the heart.

What happens after the procedure?

You will be in the intensive care unit for a few days, depending on your condition. You may then go to a regular hospital bed. Your entire stay in the hospital may last 2 to 8 days. You may need to take anticoagulants (blood thinners) the rest of your life to prevent blood clots from forming on the artificial valve and causing a stroke or other complications.

Ask your health care provider what other steps you should take and when you should come back for a checkup.

What are the benefits of this procedure?

Your heart may be able to work well again.

What are the risks associated with this procedure?

• There are some risks when you have general anesthesia. Discuss these risks with your health care provider.
• The new valve in your heart may not work quite right.
• Your kidneys and lungs may need temporary help after the operation.
• You may have mild problems with memory or thinking. You could have a stroke during or soon after the operation.
• The sac around your heart may become inflamed after the surgery and cause pain. You may need drugs to control pain. This may extend the time of healing or recovery.
• Infection or bleeding may occur.

There is risk with every treatment or procedure. Talk to your provider for complete information about how the risks apply to you.

When should I call my health care provider?

Call your health care provider immediately if:

• You develop a fever.
• You develop redness, swelling, pain, or drainage from your incision.
• You become short of breath or notice swelling in your legs or ankles.
• You develop chest pain.
• You have problems speaking or with your vision.
• You notice numbness or paralysis in your arms or legs.

Call your health care provider during office hours if:

• You have questions about the procedure or its result.
• You want to make another appointment.

Additional information on this topic can be found at:

FDA Heart Health Online