Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery

Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery


Mitral Valve Replacement - Causes, Symptoms, Success Rate & Transplant Cost in India

Mitral valve is one of the 4 valves present in the heart. The valves are present for the blood circulation through the heart to the entire parts of the body. The mitral valve's position lies between the left atrium and the left ventricle. Thus, it allows allowing the blood circulation from your left atrium towards the left ventricle and prevents it from flowing backwards into the left atrium and lungs which could cause damage.

When the mitral valve is no longer serving its function, you may be immediately recommended to get a Mitral Valve Replacement done. Untimely or delay of Mitral Valve Replacement treatment may lead to worsening of the heart function, thereby leading to heart failure and eventually death.

What are the Causes of Mitral Valve Disease?

Mitral Valve Replacement is a surgery done when the mitral valve does not work properly. The mitral valve disease can be caused due to several conditions, however, the first two cases mentioned below are majorly responsive for mitral valve disease:

  • Mitral Valve Stenosis: In this type of mitral valve disease, the mitral valve is not able to proper openly to conduct enough blood circulation. This condition develops due to calcification of hardening of the leaflets present, hence preventing the mitral valve's movement.
  • Mitral Valve Regurgitation: In this type of mitral valve disease, the blood flows back as the leaflets are being pulled apart. This causes a leak and hence regurgitation.
  • Ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease)
  • Infection of the heart valves
  • Heart failure
  • Rheumatic fever

What are the Symptoms of Mitral Valve Disease?

There are some symptoms of Mitral Valve Disease which develop over time as the mitral valve disease starts to get worse. Here are a few symptoms of Mitral Valve Disease:

  • Abnormal heart sound (heart murmur) that can be heard through a stethoscope
  • Chest pain (angina) or tightness within the chest
  • Feeling faint/dizzy or fainting as a result of activity
  • Shortness of breath, especially out of an activity
  • Fatigue, especially during times of increased activity
  • Swollen feet or Legs
  • Abnormal Blood Pressure
  • Incessant coughing
  • Heart palpitations and convulsions: sensations of a rapid, fluttering heartbeat
  • High Blood Pressure

Mitral Valve Replacement: Types of Valves

There are mainly two types of valves that the heart surgeon may use during the Mitral Valve Replacement surgery. Depending on the condition of your Mitral Valve Disease, your heart surgeon may decide which valve to choose.

1. Mechanical valves:

These are made of artificial elements like Titanium, Teflon, Carbon. They last a long time and don't wear off in the body after replacing the original mitral valve. However, after the implantation of Mechanical valves in the body, your doctor may advice you to take blood-thinning medication for the rest of your life.

2. Biological valves:

As the name suggests are made of composite or bio-prosthetic materials, often extracted from animal tissue of a cow or a pig. These valves, however, have a lifetime of 15-20 years, which means you may be required to get a second valve replacement done later. These valves may not require you to consume blood-thinning medicines. Biological valves are more commonly used in mitral valve replacement operations than mechanical valves.

Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery

Before your Mitral Valve Replacement surgery, a strong dosage of general anaesthesia is administered to you in order to put you into a deep sleep till the time the surgery is performed. As soon as the sleep is induced into your body, the surgeon makes a wide cut around the breastbone area to get access to your heart where the mitral valve replacement will take place.

In order to perform the surgery, the surgeon needs to a motionless and bloodless field. In order to keep the body functioning even when the heart is stopped, a device known as a heart-lung bypass machine is hinged to the body which is which will pump the blood in your body just like the original heart does. This device will function till the time the Mitral Valve Replacement surgery is complete. The diseased mitral valve is removed and replaced with either a mechanical or bioprosthetic valve. The surgeon ensures that all new connections to the valves are made fine before the heart is restarted. The incision is then closed with stitches.

How Long Does Heart Valve Surgery Take?

Under general anaesthesia, patients will have their aortic valve replaced during surgery. This ensures that you won't be conscious throughout the procedure and won't experience discomfort while it's being carried out. The procedure will typically take a few hours to complete.

During the Course of the Operation

In most circumstances, the surgeon will make a wide cut (incision) down the centre of your breastbone, about 25 centimetres long, to get access to your heart. However, in rare instances, the surgeon may make a minor cut.

Tubes will be introduced into your heart and central blood veins during the procedure. These tubes will be connected to a heart-lung machine, which will take over the function of your heart while the procedure is being performed.

Your doctor will provide medicine to halt your heart, and then they will clamp off your major artery. This will enable them to work on your heart even though blood will not be circulating throughout the procedure.

A hole is made in the aorta, and the defective aortic valve is taken out simultaneously.

A thin thread is used to fasten the new valve into place securely.

Before your heart is removed from the bypass machine, it will be restarted with the use of electric shocks that are under control.

Your breastbone will be reattached using wires, and the incision on your chest will be closed with sutures that will dissolve over time.

Life After a Heart Valve Change

You will probably start to feel better nearly immediately. You will note that each day brings a slight improvement in how you feel, as your condition will progressively improve over time. To reap the full benefits of your repaired mitral valve replacement, however, you must change your daily routine. You need to take some preventative measures if you do not want the condition that affects your heart valves to flare up again. Be careful to keep your follow-up appointments with your primary care physician. You will get directions on how to take your medication when to take it, what activities are appropriate for you to participate in, and which ones you should avoid.

Repairing a heart valve may leave you feeling as if you need to make significant adjustments to how you live your life. Following surgery, you will most likely experience a significant improvement in your physical well-being, which should last for many weeks or months. As you start to feel better, you should probably talk to your doctor about some of the details of this information further. The following pieces of sound medical advice should be followed for the best possible result after having a heart valve replaced:

  • Follow the precise dosage instructions for all drugs, including those you may not have used before, such as blood thinners.
  • Obtaining an adequate amount of sleep.
  • Taking the prescribed aftercare measures for surgical incisions.
  • Ensuring that you keep all of your regular appointments with the lab and the doctor may involve diagnostic procedures to assess how well your replacement valve is working and bloodwork to determine how well your medication is working.
  • Taking part in recommended activities, such as going on walks, without going to extremes.
  • Expect to go back for regular checkups even after you have made a full recovery and may even feel like a new person. This is necessary to ensure that your heart valves and overall health remain in good condition.
  • You must maintain these visits to discover any potential issues at an early stage when it is often the simplest to address them.

Side effects of Mitral Valve Replacement

Mitral Valve Replacement is a very sensitive surgery as it requires the delicate handling of the heart where the Mitral Valve Replacement has to take place. With such delicate surgery, risks are bound to follow. The risks of Mitral Valve Replacement may include:

  • Infection
  • Pain at the incision site
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Blood pressure fluctuations
  • Weakness
  • In rare cases, bleeding

Is heart valve replacement surgery dangerous?

A replacement of the aortic valve is an extensive procedure, and the problems that might arise from it can, on occasion, be deadly. It is believed that there is a 2% chance of the patient passing away as a direct consequence of the surgery. But this danger is nowhere near as great as the risk of ignoring severe aortic disease and not getting treatment for it.

Mitral Valve Replacement Recovery

After your Mitral Valve Replacement surgery, you may have to spend a few days in an intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital. Full recovery from Mitral Valve Replacement treatment can take several months, which will come through the healing of incision, rebuilding physical endurance, and regular exercising. For the first few weeks, you may feel tired and would be strictly advised to avoid physical exertion. The usual side effects of the Mitral Valve Replacement surgery may take up to a few weeks to subside.

Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery in India

The medical facilities of cardiac ICU's as well as good post-operative diagnosis, which ensures proper care after the surgery completion in India is at par with any other country having premium health facilities. Many people can also afford the surgeries for Mitral Valve Replacement in India, which is not possible in countries like USA, Australia or UK.

Heart Valve Replacement Surgery Price

Diseases of the valve or the area around it may be treated by heart valve surgery. One or more of the heart's four valves, which usually keep blood flowing in the correct direction, become defective in these diseases. The goal of these operations is to repair the faulty valves in question. Heart valve replacement in India typically costs between Rs.450000 and Rs.590000. However, costs may range amongst hospitals in various metropolitan areas. These operations typically have a 94%-97% success rate.

Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery Success Rate

The survival rate after surgery to mitral valve replacement varies greatly depending on the valve that has to be replaced. This was evaluated in significant research, in which the lifetime of a vast population that proceeded with the procedure was followed for a certain amount of time to determine the results.

When it comes to aortic valve replacement (AVR), for instance, 94% of patients survive the procedure at least 5 years afterwards. This indicates that 94 out of every 100 patients who undergo AVR surgery have a chance to survive for at least another 5 years.

Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery FAQs

Is there a difference between the mitral valve and the bicuspid valve?

In addition to its more common name, the bicuspid valve refers to the mitral valve. As the blood travels through the heart, four valves prevent it from flowing in the other direction. This is one of those valves.

What factors lead to mitral valve dysfunction?

Rheumatic heart illness is one of the primary contributors to the development of mitral valve stenosis. At this point, an infection is responsible for causing inflammation of the heart. It is possible that, over some time, the mitral valve's flaps may grow rigid and thick.

How dangerous is the procedure to replace the mitral valve?

Surgery on the mitral valve replacement comes with significant hazards, just like any other surgical operation. Some of the most significant risks connected with mitral valve surgery include the possibility of having a stroke, having a pacemaker implanted, having renal failure, lung failure, and having a wound infection. Fortunately, instances like this are relatively rare.

What happens if the mitral valve doesn't work correctly?

When mitral valve regurgitation is severe, the heart needs to work harder to pump sufficient blood to the rest of the body. The additional work leads the left ventricle, the bottom chamber of the heart, to enlarge. If not addressed, the muscle of the heart will grow weak. This can lead to the heart giving out.

How long does heart valve surgery take, and why an individual needs it?

Depending on your health, your heart valve operation may differ. The surgery could take anywhere from 3 to 5 hours, and you will be unconscious during that time. Further, the most common reason for mitral valve surgery repair is to fix a valve that leaks. This is also called mitral insufficiency or mitral valve regurgitation.

How must I stay healthy after heart valve replacement surgery?

Take all prescription drugs as directed. In addition, inform your doctor when you experience sudden fever, unexpected weight gain, discomfort, or any other symptoms. If your physician advises a low-salt diet, adhere to it. Follow your physician's recommendations for exercise and other activities. Last but not least, inform your doctor of any changes to your lifestyle.

What is the heart valve replacement surgery price?

Heart Valve Replacement Surgery costs between USD 6,200 and USD 8,200 on average in India. This expense can be lower or higher depending on the hospital, the doctor's experience, the type and quality of implant used, and many other factors.

How is life after a heart valve change?

After 4 to 6 weeks, you can do many things you usually do. However, you should avoid lifting heavy items or doing something that strains your upper arm muscles or chest for at least six weeks.

Is heart valve replacement surgery dangerous?

A heart valve replacement is a major surgery that can sometimes be fatal. Overall, 98% of people with this procedure are expected to live. However, this risk is much smaller than the risk of not caring for severe aortic disease.

Does mitral valve regurgitation develop?

Mitral valve regurgitation is usually mild and progresses slowly. A few individuals with mitral valve regurgitation may not experience any symptoms for a long time. Yet occasionally, mitral valve regurgitation occurs fast. This situation, known as acute mitral valve regurgitation, shows sudden signs and symptoms.

Does mitral valve prolapse cause shortness of breath?

Yes, having trouble breathing or feeling short of breath, especially when exercising or lying down, may be a sign of mitral valve prolapse.
Further, if you have signs of mitral valve prolapse, you should make an appointment to consult your doctor. Many other things can cause the same symptoms. However, if you've been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse and your symptoms worsen, you should see your doctor.