How to Prepare for Heart Valve Replacement Surgery
There are three ways to correct a faulty heart value. You can treat it with medication, repair it or replace it. The last two options involve a surgical procedure, and the more prepared you are for the procedure, the better.
Making the right decision
There are several tests that help you doctor get a handle on the condition of your heart valve, including:
• Listening to your heart with a stethoscope lets the doctor hear the valves opening and closing and the blood rushing through the valves.
• An echocardiogram can give him a detailed picture of your heart using sound waves. An echocardiogram is the most common test to find out if a heart valve can be repaired, but sometimes it takes a visual inspection during surgery to get the answer.
• A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study will also provide a detailed look inside your heart. The MRI uses magnetic field and radio waves to develop the image.
• A simple X-ray of your chest lets the doctor check your heart, major vessels and lungs for any signs of abnormalities.
• An echocardiogram (ECG) gives the doctor information about your heart rhythm and its size by measuring the electrical impulses given off by your heart.
If surgery is the final decision, know that surgical heart valve replacement has been performed for years. While all procedures carry risks, this is considered a safe operation that has helped many patients live healthy, active lives.
Risks
It is helpful to know going into it that there are risks associated with heart valve replacement surgery, including but not limited to:
• Bleeding during or after the surgery
• Developing blood clots, which can cause other problems such as heart attack, stroke or lung problems.
• Developing an infection at the incision site
• Developing pneumonia or other breathing problems
• Experiencing dysrhythmias or arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)
Meet the team
Before you undergo surgery, your pre-admission work will include a thorough health screening. If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, you should tell the doctor. Likewise, if you are breastfeeding, tell your doctor. You should also tell your doctor if you are allergic to or sensitive to medications, contrast dyes, iodine or latex.
Be sure to come prepared with a list all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medications and any herbal supplements. Be aware that if you have a history of a bleeding disorder or if you are taking any blood thinners, aspirin or any medication that can affect blood clotting, you may be asked to stop taking it prior to the procedure.
You will also be scheduled to have a consultation with the anesthesiologist, who will review your medical history. The doctor will ask about previous surgeries or procedures to see how you fared with anesthesia.
When you meet with your cardiologist, he will explain the procedure to you and give you the chance to ask any questions about the procedure. Think about this beforehand and come in prepared with a list of questions. You might also want to bring someone with you to help you remember the answers to your questions, or someone who is more familiar than you with medical terms.
Before the surgery, you will need to sign a consent form, giving your permission for the procedure to take place. Be sure to read it carefully and ask questions if you don't understand a part of it.
You will also undergo pre-admission testing, which includes a complete physical examination, blood tests and other diagnostic tests. For example, the doctor may request a test that tells him how long it takes for your blood to clot. Remember, your doctor wants to have a complete understanding of your health before he operates on you. He also wants to make sure you are healthy enough for the surgery.
Finally, expect that you will most likely have to fast for some period prior to the procedure. Generally, you cannot eat or drink anything for eight hours before the procedure. Because this has to do with the anesthesia you will be receiving, it is important that you follow the directions exactly.
Post-surgery
After you have undergone surgery, spent time in the Intensive Care Unit (or Cardiac Care Unit) and later on a surgical floor, you will be released to go home. It does not mean that you are completely recovered. Expect recovery to take at least eight weeks and up to 12 weeks. Some patients recover faster than others. Your overall physical condition will have a lot to do with the speed of your rehabilitation, as well as the kind of surgery you had and how well your incision is healing.
Take your time and follow the doctor's orders. You will gradually regain your energy and life will return to normal.
Making the right decision
There are several tests that help you doctor get a handle on the condition of your heart valve, including:
• Listening to your heart with a stethoscope lets the doctor hear the valves opening and closing and the blood rushing through the valves.
• An echocardiogram can give him a detailed picture of your heart using sound waves. An echocardiogram is the most common test to find out if a heart valve can be repaired, but sometimes it takes a visual inspection during surgery to get the answer.
• A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study will also provide a detailed look inside your heart. The MRI uses magnetic field and radio waves to develop the image.
• A simple X-ray of your chest lets the doctor check your heart, major vessels and lungs for any signs of abnormalities.
• An echocardiogram (ECG) gives the doctor information about your heart rhythm and its size by measuring the electrical impulses given off by your heart.
If surgery is the final decision, know that surgical heart valve replacement has been performed for years. While all procedures carry risks, this is considered a safe operation that has helped many patients live healthy, active lives.
Risks
It is helpful to know going into it that there are risks associated with heart valve replacement surgery, including but not limited to:
• Bleeding during or after the surgery
• Developing blood clots, which can cause other problems such as heart attack, stroke or lung problems.
• Developing an infection at the incision site
• Developing pneumonia or other breathing problems
• Experiencing dysrhythmias or arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)
Meet the team
Before you undergo surgery, your pre-admission work will include a thorough health screening. If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, you should tell the doctor. Likewise, if you are breastfeeding, tell your doctor. You should also tell your doctor if you are allergic to or sensitive to medications, contrast dyes, iodine or latex.
Be sure to come prepared with a list all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medications and any herbal supplements. Be aware that if you have a history of a bleeding disorder or if you are taking any blood thinners, aspirin or any medication that can affect blood clotting, you may be asked to stop taking it prior to the procedure.
You will also be scheduled to have a consultation with the anesthesiologist, who will review your medical history. The doctor will ask about previous surgeries or procedures to see how you fared with anesthesia.
When you meet with your cardiologist, he will explain the procedure to you and give you the chance to ask any questions about the procedure. Think about this beforehand and come in prepared with a list of questions. You might also want to bring someone with you to help you remember the answers to your questions, or someone who is more familiar than you with medical terms.
Before the surgery, you will need to sign a consent form, giving your permission for the procedure to take place. Be sure to read it carefully and ask questions if you don't understand a part of it.
You will also undergo pre-admission testing, which includes a complete physical examination, blood tests and other diagnostic tests. For example, the doctor may request a test that tells him how long it takes for your blood to clot. Remember, your doctor wants to have a complete understanding of your health before he operates on you. He also wants to make sure you are healthy enough for the surgery.
Finally, expect that you will most likely have to fast for some period prior to the procedure. Generally, you cannot eat or drink anything for eight hours before the procedure. Because this has to do with the anesthesia you will be receiving, it is important that you follow the directions exactly.
Post-surgery
After you have undergone surgery, spent time in the Intensive Care Unit (or Cardiac Care Unit) and later on a surgical floor, you will be released to go home. It does not mean that you are completely recovered. Expect recovery to take at least eight weeks and up to 12 weeks. Some patients recover faster than others. Your overall physical condition will have a lot to do with the speed of your rehabilitation, as well as the kind of surgery you had and how well your incision is healing.
Take your time and follow the doctor's orders. You will gradually regain your energy and life will return to normal.
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