Heart attacks are the commonest serious illnesses suffered by men and women to-day. Heart attacks are the result of two main processes. One is known as ‘atherosclerosis’. In this condition, there is a gradual build-up of fatty substances in the walls of the coronary arteries which supply the heart muscle with blood. The second is … Read more
Most patients who have less severe forms of heart valve disease will undergo pregnancy without complication though very careful medical supervision is always advisable. If the valve disease is severe then the risk of pregnancy to both mother and baby is greater. This is a matter for detailed discussion between the patient and her doctor. … Read more
In about 5% of the population the mitral valve may be slightly deformed causing it to leak a little. This gives rise to a heart murmur but in terms of the heart is of little consequence; only very rarely does this condition give rise to any problems. The importance of this condition is that because … Read more
Any heart valve that is abnormal is susceptible to infection. This may occur even when the abnormality is mild and is not otherwise causing any trouble. Infection on the valve can be very serious causing a deterioration in the function of the valve and even quite mildly abnormal valves can become seriously leaky if treatment … Read more
The usual length of stay in hospital is about 8-10 days if there are complications. The stay may be longer, but is seldom less. The first four to six weeks after leaving hospital has to be regarded as a time of recovery. There is a wide variation in the rate at which different people get … Read more
Currently the hospital mortality (death within 30 days of operation) for Multiple valve replacement carries much the same risk as single valve single valve replacement is less than 5%. procedures. There is a slightly increased risk if the patient requires coronary artery surgery in addition to the valve procedure. The risk for a valve operation … Read more
Valve replacement as we know it today started in the 1960s and xenograft valves have been in use on a large scale for about 10 years. In general, the man-made valve has proved longer lasting than the biological valve, but to date only a small proportion of the biological valves have failed. Many prefer to … Read more
There are two varieties of valve that can be used to replace the diseased one in the patient: 1. Prosthetic 2. Artificial, man-made valves, sometimes called “plastic” valves, although they have little plastic in them. Biological Valves made from human or specially treated animal tissue. Both types of valve have advantages and disadvantages; both are … Read more
The two valves most often affected are the mitral and aortic valves on either side of the main pumping chamber (left ventricle) on the high pressure side of the heart. The corresponding valves on the low pressure side of the heart concerned with pumping blood to the lungs need attention less frequently. When the mitral … Read more
Treatment may involve the use of drugs or surgery. One type of drug (diuretic) is used to relieve the congestion that develops in the lungs or the fluid that may collect in the legs and abdomen. Another, digoxin, is used to improve the pumping efficiency of the heart. Several other drugs are now available which … Read more