WHAT WE DO

Valve Surgery There are four valves in your heart that help control the flow of blood through the chambers and keep the blood moving in one direction. When one of these valves stops working normally, the blood has difficulty moving from one chamber to another. The malfunctioning heart valve may give you shortness of breath, a decrease in your ability to exercise, chest pain or other symptoms. Once your physician feels he or she can no longer control your malfunctioning valve with medication, it may be recommended that you have the valve replaced or repaired. Types of Valve Disorders: Valve surgery is most often recommended for the valve problems listed below. Aortic Stenosis Aortic Insufficiency Mitral Stenosis Mitral Insufficiency Types of Valve Repair/Replacement Procedures: Mechanical Valves A mechanical heart valve is a prosthesis that is used to replace your malfunctioning valve. Made of metal and plastic, it opens and closes in the same way a normal valve would open and close. This valve, once it is sutured into your heart, will take over the function of your removed valve. Advantage - lasts longest. Disadvantage - requires anti-coagulation. Blood Clot Prevention following Surgery: Having a mechanical valve increases your risk of developing clots that can interfere with its function or travel to other parts of the body, which would create a significant medical problem. This is why following this surgery you will be put on blood thinners in order to prevent blood clots. You will need to understand how this medicine works and how to take it properly. About one month after your surgery, you will receive an identification card that will contain the type and serial number of the valve you have implanted. You must keep this card with you in your wallet in the event of an emergency. This information will be important to any doctor who may take care of you in the future. Biologic Valves This type of replacement valve is a prosthesis manufactured from biologic materials. It has the configuration of and functions like a normal valve. This valve replaces your diseased valve. You will not need to take strong anticoagulation medication following this surgery because the valve is made of biologic material. You will, however, need a gentle anticoagulant, likely aspirin, in order to keep clots from forming on this valve. Advantage - less need for anticoagulation. Disadvantage - lasts a shorter time. Mitral Valve Repair This surgical repair procedure restores normal one-way function of the mitral valve. Surgeons use the tissues of your heart to reconstruct a mitral valve that functions efficiently. This reconstruction requires the use of a small prosthetic ring, which is designed to properly size your mitral valve, as well as prevent any further stretching of the valve. You will need to take anti-coagulation medication following this operative procedure. Key benefits of Valve Replacement Surgery: improvement of symptoms (shortness of breath, chest pain) preservation of heart function effective treatment of serious infections of the heart valves