Valve replacement; Valve repair; Heart valve prosthesis

The risks for any anesthesia include:

• Problems breathing
• Reactions to medications

The risks for any surgery include:

• Bleeding
• Blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs
• Infection, including in the lungs, kidneys, bladder, chest, or heart valves

The risks for cardiac surgery include:

• Death
• Heart attack
• Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
• Kidney failure
• Post-pericardiotomy syndrome -- low-grade fever and chest pain that can last for up to 6 months
• Stroke
• Temporary confusion after surgery due to the heart-lung machine

It is very important to take steps to prevent valve infections. You may need to take antibiotics before dental work and other invasive procedures.

Images

Heart, front view

Heart valves - anterior view

Review Date: 05/17/2010
Reviewed By: Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)