Healthy Heart
Coronary arteries are the blood vessels which supply the muscle of the heart with its oxygen and energy supply. Coronary arteries can become blocked by the build-up of a fatty substance in the wall of the coronary artery. When the blockage is severe, it produces chest pain during exercise and can produce a heart attack … Read more
Micro-organisms in the mouth and particularly those around the teeth and gums have a special tendency to enter the blood stream and cause infection on abnormal heart valves, including replacement valves of all types. For this reason, before valve surgery is undertaken, special attention is paid to the state of the patient’s teeth and gums, … Read more
Currently the hospital mortality (death within 30 days of the operation) for single valve replacement is around 4%. Multiple valve replacement procedures carry a slightly higher risk than single valve procedures. There is also an increased risk if the patient requires coronary artery surgery in addition to the valve procedure. It may be helpful to … Read more
Our knowledge of the results of valve replacement surgery only dates back to the 1960s when valve surgery began. It must be said that there is no perfect artificial heart valve. However, the long-term results are excellent. Only a minority of patients (around 20% to 25%) will require reoperation within 10 to 12 years of … Read more
There are two main types of artificial heart valves used by surgeons. (a) Tissue heart valves. -These valves are constructed using natural biological tissue. The tissue is often animal tissue treated with a substance which preserves the tissue and makes it impossible for the patient’s body to reject the new valve. (b) Prosthetic heart valves. … Read more
In valve operations the surgeon approaches the heart through an incision made in the front of the chest. The breast-bone (sternum) is cut lengthwise giving good access to the heart which lies in the centre of the chest cavity. During the main part of the operation when the heart itself is being operated upon, it … Read more
The heart acts basically as a pump, pumping the blood around the body. Within the heart are four valves which ensure that the flow of blood is unrestricted and one way. Heart valves may become damaged or diseased so that the normal function is disturbed. Diseased valves may obstruct the flow of blood (valve stenosis) … Read more
The great majority of adults who are advised to have heart operations are suffering from disease of the heart valves or of the coronary arteries or both. A smaller number have heart defects present since birth (congenital defects). This chapter will give details on the two major groups, that is, heart valve surgery and coronary … Read more
ACE INHIBITORS: (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) – Drugs which block the formation of angiotensin-a natural substance which causes narrowing of blood vessels, especially in the kidney. These drugs are used to treat high blood pressure or heart failure. ANEURYSM-Ballooning out from a weak spot in the arterial wall or the heart wall. ANGINA-Literally means a choking … Read more
The normal heart-beat is initiated by a signal from the pacemaker cells in the heart which is very rapidly conducted over the whole heart so that its billions of muscle cells get the message simultaneously and contract collectively to provide an effective heart-beat. The conducting pathways can, however, become diseased. The heart may then beat … Read more