Aortic valve surgery - open (patient information)

For the WikiDoc page for Aortic regurgitation surgery, click here; '''For the WikiDoc page for Aortic stenosis surgery, click here


 * Associate Editor-in-Chief: Mohammed A. Sbeih, M.D. [mailto:msbeih@perfuse.org]

Overview
Aortic valve surgery is done to replace the aortic valve in your heart.

Blood flows out of your heart and into the aorta through a valve. This valve is called the aortic valve. It opens up so blood can flow out. It then closes, keeping blood from flowing backwards.


 * An aortic valve that does not close all the way allows blood to leak back into your heart. This is called aortic regurgitation.


 * An aortic valve that does not open fully will restrict blood flow. This is called aortic stenosis.

In open surgery, the surgeon makes a large cut in your breastbone to reach the heart and aorta.

How is Aortic valve surgery (open) done?
Before your surgery you will receive general anesthesia. This will make you unconscious and unable to feel pain.

If your aortic valve is too damaged, you will need a new valve. This is called replacement surgery. Your surgeon will remove your aortic valve and sew a new one into place. There are two main types of new valves:
 * Your surgeon will make a 10-inch-long cut in the middle of your chest.
 * Next, your surgeon will separate your breastbone to be able to see your heart and aorta (the main blood vessel leading from your heart to the rest of your body).
 * Most people are connected to a heart-lung bypass machine or bypass pump. Your heart is stopped while you are connected to this machine. This machine does the work of your heart while your heart is stopped.

Once the new valve is working, your surgeon will:
 * Mechanical: Made of man-made materials, such as titanium or ceramic. These valves last the longest, but you will need to take blood-thinning medicine, such as warfarin(Coumadin) or aspirin, for the rest of your life.
 * Biological: Made of human or animal tissue. These valves last 10 to 12 years, but you may not need to take blood thinners for life.

This surgery may take 2 to 5 hours.
 * Close your heart and take you off the heart-lung machine.
 * Place catheters (tubes) around your heart to drain fluids that build up.
 * Close your breastbone with stainless steel wires. It will take about 6 weeks for the bone to heal. The wires will stay inside your body.

Sometimes other procedures are done during open aortic surgery. These include:


 * Coronary bypass surgery
 * Graft of the first part of the aorta (large blood vessel leaving the heart)
 * Ross (or switch) procedure

Who needs Aortic valve surgery (open)?
You may need surgery if your aortic valve does not work properly. You may need open-heart valve surgery for these reasons:


 * Changes in your aortic valve are causing major heart symptoms, such as chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, fainting spells (syncope), or heart failure.
 * Tests show that changes in your aortic valve are beginning to seriously harm how well your heart works.
 * Your heart valve has been damaged by infection of the heart valve (endocarditis).
 * You have received a new heart valve in the past and it is not working well, or you have other problems such as blood clots, infection, or bleeding.

Where to find centers that perform Aortic valve surgery (open)?
Directions to Hospitals Performing Aortic valve surgery - open

What are the risks of Aortic valve surgery (open)?
Risks for any anesthesia are:

Possible risks from having open heart surgery are:
 * Blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs
 * Blood loss
 * Breathing problems
 * Infection, including in the lungs, kidneys, bladder, chest, or heart valves
 * Reactions to medicines


 * Heart attack or stroke
 * Heart rhythm problems
 * Incision infection, which is more likely to occur in people who are obese, have diabetes, or have already had this surgery
 * Infection of the new valve
 * Kidney failure
 * Memory loss and loss of mental clarity, or "fuzzy thinking"
 * Poor healing of the incision
 * Post-pericardiotomy syndrome (low-grade fever and chest pain) that could last up to 6 months

What to expect before Aortic valve surgery (open)?
Always tell your doctor or nurse:

You may be able to store blood in the blood bank for transfusions during and after your surgery. Ask your surgeon how you and your family members can donate blood.
 * If you are or could be pregnant
 * What drugs you are taking, even drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription

For the 2-week period before surgery, you may be asked to stop taking drugs that make it harder for your blood to clot. These might cause increased bleeding during the surgery.

During the days before your surgery:
 * Some of these drugs are aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn).
 * If you are taking warfarin (Coumadin) or clopidogrel (Plavix), talk with your surgeon before stopping or changing how you take these drugs.

Prepare your house for when you get home from the hospital.
 * Ask your doctor which drugs you should still take on the day of your surgery.
 * If you smoke, you must stop. Ask your doctor for help.
 * Always let your doctor know if you have a cold, flu, fever, herpes breakout, or any other illness in the time leading up to your surgery.

The day before your surgery, shower and shampoo well. You may be asked to wash your whole body below your neck with a special soap. Scrub your chest two or three times with this soap. You also may be asked to take an antibiotic to prevent infection.

On the day of your surgery:


 * You will usually be asked not to drink or eat anything after midnight the night before your surgery. This includes chewing gum and using breath mints. Rinse your mouth with water if it feels dry, but be careful not to swallow.
 * Take the drugs your doctor told you to take with a small sip of water.
 * Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.

What to expect after Aortic valve surgery (open)?
Expect to spend 5 to 7 days in the hospital after surgery. You will spend the first night in the ICU and may stay there for 1 or 2 days. Two to three tubes will be in your chest to drain fluid from around your heart. These are usually removed 1 to 3 days after surgery.

You may have a catheter (flexible tube) in your bladder to drain urine. You may also have intravenous (IV, in a vein) lines to deliver fluids. Nurses will closely watch monitors that show information about your vital signs (your pulse, temperature, and breathing).

You will be moved to a regular hospital room from the ICU. Your nurses and doctors will continue to monitor your heart and vital signs until you are stable enough to go home. You will receive pain medicine to control pain around your surgical cut.

Your nurse will help you slowly resume some activity. You may begin a program to make your heart and body stronger.

A temporary pacemaker may be placed in your heart if your heart rate becomes too slow after surgery.

Results
Mechanical heart valves do not fail often. However, blood clots develop on them. If a blood clot forms, you may have a stroke. Bleeding can occur, but this is rare.

Biological valves tend to fail over time. But they have a lower risk of blood clots.

For best results, have aortic valve surgery at a center that does many of these procedures.