Procedure
The heart valve operation, including atrial valve replacement, is a meticulous procedure performed under general anesthesia. The surgical team opens the chest through a sternotomy or minimally invasive approach. The heart is temporarily stopped, and the patient is connected to a heart-lung bypass machine, which maintains oxygenated blood circulation throughout the body.
During surgical aortic valve replacement, the damaged valve is carefully removed, and the prosthetic cardiac valve is securely implanted and sutured into place. This replacement valve can be mechanical or biological, depending on individual factors.
Once the new valve is in position and functioning correctly, the heart is restarted, and the patient is weaned off the bypass machine. The chest is closed, and the patient is monitored closely in the intensive care unit (icu) during the initial recovery phase. Post-operative care includes medications, rehabilitation, and follow-up assessments to ensure the success of the aortic heart valve replacement, heart valve transplant, and avr replacement, as well as the patient's overall cardiac health.