Heart valve surgery

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Heart, section through the middle

Heart, front view

Heart valves - anterior view

Heart valves - superior view

Heart valve surgery - series

Overview

Recovery

Risks

Heart valve surgery

Alternative Names:

Valve replacement; Valve repair; Heart valve prosthesis

Expectations after surgery:

The success rate of heart valve surgery is high. The operation can relieve your symptoms and prolong your life.

The death rate averages 2% to 5%, depending on the heart valve. About 2 of every 3 patients who received an artificial mitral valve are still alive 9 years after the surgery.

The clicking of the mechanical heart valve may be heard in the chest. This is normal.

Convalescence:

You will stay in an intensive care unit for the first 2 or 3 days following the operation. Your heart functions will be monitored constantly. The average hospital stay is 1-2 weeks. Complete recovery will take a few weeks to several months, depending on your health before surgery.

Review Date: 5/30/2006
Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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