Mitral Valve Replacement: Open

What is an open up mitral valve replacement?

An open up mitral valve replacement is a surgery to replace a poorly working mitral valve with an bogus valve. The mitral valve is ane of the heart's 4 valves. It helps blood flow through the heart and out to the body. The mitral valve lies betwixt the left atrium and the left ventricle. Your doctor volition supersede your poorly working mitral valve with an artificial valve. This will ensure that blood tin can period into the left ventricle and then flow out to the body normally, without putting extra stress on the heart. The surgery is called "open up" because it uses a traditional larger incision to expose the center. This incision is larger than the incision used in minimally invasive mitral valve replacement surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Mitral Valve

Why might I demand an open up mitral valve replacement?

The procedure may be necessary if the mitral valve is working poorly. Surgical repair of the mitral valve is often possible, but sometimes the valve needs to be replaced.

Mitral valve stenosis and mitral valve regurgitation (too known every bit mitral insufficiency) are 2 unlike types of problems that might need valve replacement.

  • In mitral valve stenosis, the valve is unable to open fully, and less claret is able to move from the left atria into the left ventricle.
  • In mitral valve regurgitation, the valve is leaky. Some claret leaks back into the left atrium instead of moving forward into the left ventricle.

These valve problems can pb to such symptoms every bit fatigue and shortness of breath. If these symptoms become severe, surgery may exist necessary.

Both mitral stenosis and mitral regurgitation can result from general crumbling of the valve. Other causes of mitral valve affliction include:

  • Ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease)
  • Infection of the centre valves
  • Heart failure
  • Rheumatic fever

What are the risks of an open up mitral valve replacement?

Almost people who have an open mitral valve replacement have a successful issue, only there are certain risks. Your particular risks will vary based on your overall health, your age, and other factors. Be sure to talk with your medico about whatever concerns that you lot take. Possible risks include:

  • Infection
  • Haemorrhage
  • Irregular heart rhythms
  • Blood clots leading to stroke or centre attack
  • Complications from anesthesia
  • Continued leaking of the valve
  • Damage to nearby organs
  • Memory loss or issues with concentration

Certain factors increment the risk of complications, like:

  • Chronic illness
  • Other middle weather
  • Lung problems
  • Increased age
  • Being obese
  • Being a smoker
  • Infections

How exercise I become ready for an open mitral valve replacement?

Equally you plan for the surgery, you lot and your doctor will determine what kind of valve will piece of work best for you lot. Your surgeon will replace your valve with a biological valve or a mechanical valve.

  • Biological valves are made mainly from pig, moo-cow, or human being heart tissue. Biological valves don't last equally long equally mechanical valves
  • Mechanical valves are man-fabricated. If you receive a mechanical valve, you will need to take claret-thinning medicine for the rest of your life. Mechanical valves also accept an increased risk of infection.

Talk with your md about how to set for your upcoming surgery. Remember the following:

  • Avoid eating or drinking anything after midnight earlier your surgery.
  • Endeavor to stop smoking before your operation. Ask your doctor for ways to help.
  • Y'all may need to finish taking sure medicines before your surgery. Follow your doctor's instructions if you ordinarily have claret-thinning medicines like warfarin or aspirin.

You may demand to make it at the hospital the afternoon before your operation. This is a good time to inquire whatever questions you lot accept well-nigh the procedure. Y'all may need some routine tests earlier the procedure to appraise your health earlier surgery. These may include:

  • Chest Ten-ray
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Blood tests
  • Echocardiogram
  • Coronary angiogram (to assess blood flow in your centre arteries)

Almost an hr before the performance, someone will give you lot medicines to aid you relax. In most cases your surgery will keep equally planned, but sometimes another emergency might filibuster your operation.

What happens during an open up mitral valve replacement?

Check with your doctor about the details of your process. In full general, during your open mitral valve replacement:

  • A doctor volition give you anesthesia before the surgery starts. This will cause you to slumber deeply and you will not feel pain during the operation. Afterwards you won't remember it.
  • The operation will have several hours. Family unit and friends should stay in the waiting room, so the surgeon can update them.
  • Your doctor will make an incision downwards the middle of your breast. To access your heart, your doctor will divide your breastbone.
  • The surgery team will attach yous to a heart-lung machine. This automobile will human activity equally your heart and lungs during the procedure.
  • Your surgeon volition remove your current mitral heart valve and replace it with a new valve.
  • The surgery team volition remove the eye-lung machine.
  • The squad will wire your breastbone back together.
  • The team volition and so sew together or staple the incision in your peel back together.

What happens after an open mitral valve replacement?

After your open mitral valve replacement:

  • You will begin your recovery in the intensive intendance unit or a recovery room.
  • When you wake up, you might feel dislocated at first. You lot might wake up a couple of hours after the surgery, or a little later.
  • Most people who have mitral valve replacement notice immediate symptom relief after their surgery.
  • The team volition carefully monitor your vital signs, such as your heart rate. They may hook you upward to several machines and so the nurses can bank check these more than easily.
  • You may have a tube in your throat to help you breathe. This may be uncomfortable, and you lot won't be able to talk. Someone will usually remove the tube within 24 hours.
  • You may have a chest tube to drain backlog fluid from your chest.
  • Bandages will cover your incision. These tin commonly come off within a couple of days.
  • Y'all will feel some soreness, but y'all shouldn't feel severe pain. If you need it, you can ask for pain medicine.
  • In a day or 2, you should be able to sit in a chair and walk with help.
  • You may perform breathing therapy to help remove fluids that collect in your lungs during surgery.
  • Y'all volition probably exist able to drink the day after surgery. Y'all can have regular foods as shortly equally you can tolerate them.
  • You may receive elastic stockings to help blood circulate through your leg veins.
  • You will probably need to stay in the hospital for around 5 days.

After y'all get out the hospital:

  • Make certain y'all have someone to drive you dwelling from the hospital. You lot will too demand some help at home for a while.
  • You will probably have your stitches or staples removed in a follow-upward engagement in 7 to 10 days. Be sure to keep all follow-upwards appointments.
  • Y'all may tire easily after the surgery, but y'all volition gradually start to recover your forcefulness. Information technology may have several weeks to fully recover from your surgery.
  • After y'all get home, take your temperature and your weight every twenty-four hours. Tell your doc if your temperature is over 100.4°F (38˚C), or if your weight changes.
  • Ask your medico when information technology is safe for yous to drive.
  • Avoid lifting anything heavy for several weeks. Ask your doctor nearly what is safe for y'all to lift.
  • Follow all the instructions your healthcare provider gives you for medications, exercise, diet, and wound care.
  • Brand sure all your dentists and doctors know most your medical history. You may demand to take antibiotics earlier sure medical and dental procedures to prevent getting an infection on your replacement valve.

Adjacent steps

Before you lot concord to the test or the process make sure you know:

  • The proper noun of the test or process
  • The reason you are having the examination or procedure
  • What results to wait and what they hateful
  • The risks and benefits of the examination or procedure
  • What the possible side effects or complications are
  • When and where yous are to have the test or procedure
  • Who will exercise the test or process and what that person's qualifications are
  • What would  happen if yous did non have the exam or procedure
  • Any alternative tests or procedures to think about
  • When and how will you get the results
  • Who to call after the test or process if y'all have questions or problems
  • How much volition you have to pay for the examination or process
James Gammie, M.D. - mitral valve repair

New Co-Director Appointed to the Johns Hopkins Heart and Vascular Institute

James Gammie, M.D., has joined The Johns Hopkins Center and Vascular Institute as a co-director and surgical lead. Dr. Gammie is an expert in mitral valve repair and performs over 200 procedures each year, and is a entrepreneur who has launched four companies — brings that enthusiasm and spirit of innovation to Johns Hopkins.