Although it is not made of metal and cannot run without rest, the human body is most assuredly a machine. It is composed of organic cogs and gears, most which perform specific functions and keep the whole thing going. The appendix is the obvious, rare exception. Almost everything in our bodies has a job to do. Other than the brain, there is no organ that performs more essential tasks than the heart.
What does it do?
The heart is a muscle that pumps blood throughout the circulatory systems of all vertebrates, including human beings. To use a mechanical analogy, it is like the fuel pump that delivers gasoline to the engine of a car. Without this delivery, the vehicle will not run, just as humans cannot live without constant and consistent delivery of blood to all areas of the body. The average human heart beats about 72 times per minute, or 103680 times a day. As you might expect, any muscle that beats or flexes that often must be pretty strong. The heart is. But it is far from invulnerable. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
Heart Valve Surgery
There are four major valves in the human heart: the aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonary. If any of these valves are diseased or damaged, they may need to be replaced. Failure to do so could lead to premature death, since their job is a vital one. All the blood that enters and exits the heart must flow through valves. Not only do they connect and pump blood into major arteries, but they also close and prevent it from flowing backward.
When it is needed
When a valve does not open fully, the blood flow can be severely limited. This condition is called stenosis and it can be quite serious. On the other hand, when a valve does not close all the way, blood will leak back into the heart. Doctors refer to this as regurgitation. Both defects must be corrected as soon as possible. Either can cause serious cardiac symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest pain (angina), and even heart failure.
How it is diagnosed
More often than not, a doctor can determine if a valve is damaged or diseased with a battery of tests. Like any other organ, heart valves can be damaged or destroyed by serious infection, also known as endocarditis. What are your options?
Surgery
Unfortunately, prescription medications cannot repair damaged heart valves or alleviate the symptoms associated with them. A doctor must perform either open or minimally invasive surgery. Open surgery is when a doctor makes a large incision in your breastbone in order to reach the heart. Minimally invasive valve surgery is completed through a much smaller incision and involves different medical equipment and techniques.
More often than not, a surgeon will not know if the heart valve can be repaired until he gets in there. Laparoscopy and endoscopy are fairly common procedures that are used during minimally invasive surgery. Doctors prefer them because surgery and recovery times are generally much shorter with these techniques. However, if the surgeon determines that the affected heart value is simply too damaged to repair or save, he must replace it.
Heart Valve Replacement
There are several options patients must discuss with their doctors before they go under the knife to have a heart valve replaced. All of them have their strengths and weaknesses. The choice of one over the other often depends on occupation, age, and general level of physical activity. Let us take a moment to review them individually.
Mechanical
Younger patients often go with the mechanical options, since they tend to last the longest. Made of stainless steel, titanium, or ceramic, they are durable and tough are will not cause infections, which means no rejection. The only drawback is that patients with mechanical valves often have to take blood-thinning medications for the rest of their lives. More often than not, a simple aspirin will do, but some folks have to take prescription pills, like warfarin (Coumadin).
Biological
Older patients who don't want to take a lot of pills often opt for a biological solution. These heart valves are made of human or animal tissue and they typically last for 12 to 15 years. The good news is that these patients rarely need blood thinners to lead healthy lives after their surgeries.
Pulmonary
Though it is the least popular option, it is sometimes possible to replace a damaged heart valve with a pulmonary valve from the same patient. Because it does not work as hard, the removed pulmonary valve can then be replaced with an artificial valve. The advantage of the switch is that there are typically fewer complications when an artificial valve is used in the lungs, rather than in the heart. In other words, the patient may not have to take blood thinners or other pills to live an active, healthy life.
Heart valve surgery is performed at most major hospitals and is a safe and effective procedure for cardiac patients.
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice. All medical information presented should be discussed with your healthcare professional. Remember, the failure to seek timely medical advice can have serious ramifications. We urge you to discuss any current health related problems you are experiencing with a healthcare professional immediately.
Erin Harding is a freelance writer who writes about a variety of health topics including heart valve replacement surgery
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