FAQ

Mild heart valve disease may not cause any symptoms and symptoms may vary depending on the individual or valve involved. However, some typical symptoms of heart valve disease include: chest pain, palpitations caused by irregular heartbeats, migraine headaches, fatigue, dizziness, low or high blood pressure, depending on which valve disease is present, shortness of breath

It is important to contact your physician for an accurate diagnosis.

The causes of heart valve disease can vary but may include:

• Damage resulting from a heart attack
• Damage resulting from an infection
• Changes in the heart valve structure due to the aging process
• Congenital birth defect
• Myxomatous degeneration - an inherited connective tissue disorder that weakens the heart valve tissue.
• A history of rheumatic fever (now a rare disease in North America due to effective antibiotic treatment).

Treatment options can vary from careful monitoring of the situation to drug intervention to surgical options. The choice of treatment must be discussed with your doctor who will take into consideration your overall health, age, past medical history, signs and symptoms, extent of valve disease, your tolerance for a specific medication or procedure, your preferences and/or tolerance for future procedures.  

In some cases, surgery on the malfunctioning valve can be performed to repair the diseased valve. In increasing numbers across the United States, valves are being repaired using robot-assisted devices. This allows a more minimally invasive surgical technique.

Heart valve replacement is another option when the mitral valve severely malformed or destroyed and cannot be repaired. Replacement valves fall into two categories: mechanical valves, constructed from a durable pyrolytic carbon material and tissue (biologic) valves, which include animal valves and donated human aortic valves.

No, while mechanical valves may share similar materials, the design of these materials is different. It is important to look at how blood flows through the valve. 

In the operating room, a number of monitoring devices, such as an EKG, to monitor the function of your heart and other vital signs during surgery will be attached to your body and an intravenous (IV) line will be inserted into your arm to deliver fluids and any necessary medication. To help you breathe during surgery, you will be placed on a respirator, which involves placing a tube down your throat and into your lungs. You will be placed under general anesthesia so that you do not see or feel anything during surgery. After you are unconscious, a transesophageal echocardiogram, which is a type of ultrasound device, may be inserted into your esophagus to display images of your heart during surgery.

To gain access to the heart, the surgeon may cut through your sternum or breastbone, or may go in between your ribs. Once your heart is visible, the surgeon will place you on a heart-lung machine, which will take over the function of your heart and lungs for the remainder of the operation by circulating oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. During this bypass, your aorta is clamped near your valve to prevent blood from interfering with the surgery. This bypass is necessary because it is difficult to work on your heart while it is beating. After the diseased valve is removed, the surgeon will use a device to measure the size of the valve opening to select the correct size for the replacement valve to ensure the best possible blood flow When the new valve is in place, the surgeon will allow your heart to start beating again. When your heart is beating normally, your surgeon will begin to close the incisions that have been made. As a precautionary measure, it is common to insert pace maker wires before you are transferred to the ICU. If these wires are not needed, they will be removed when the surgeon thinks it is appropriate.

Following valve surgery, the valve recovery process depends on many factors; type of procedure, other procedures needed at time of surgery, for example a coronary bypass procedure, age of patient, health condition of patient at the time of the procedure, other contributing medical conditions, etc. There is more evidence that attitude of the patient prior to procedure plays an important role in the recovery process. In short, it is difficult to tell how any one individual may recover. However, on average across the United States, hospital stays are about 5 days for valve replacement procedures. It may be about a month before driving a car is recommended. Your surgeon and cardiologist will guide you in your recovery process.

Depending on the position of the replacement valve, i.e. mitral or aortic and most importantly the age of the patient at the time of implant, tissue valves will last on average about 10 years.¹

No, mechanical heart valves do not typically activate any alarms nor do airport security systems negatively affect mechanical valve function. X-rays and MRI screening can be completed with most mechanical heart valve. It is always wise, however, to carry your patient identification implant card, especially when traveling. Ask your doctor for more information on X-rays and MRIs.

Endocarditis also referred to as infective endocarditis is an infection of the heart that can damage the heart valves. It is recommended that people with heart valve disease, artificial heart valves (either bioprosthetic or mechanical), congenital heart defects, or an abnormally thickening of the heart muscle take antibiotic therapy prior to any dental procedure or other surgical procedure to prevent this type of infection. As always check with your cardiologist to see if this pertains to you. Also it is important to remind your dentist if you have been diagnosed with heart valve disease and/or undergoing treatment for heart valve disease.

A patient identification card following a valve replacement provides identification as to what type of valve that you have implanted. In case of accident or emergency, it can alert those taking care of you to position of the valve, materials of the valve and any potential medication that you may be taking as a result of your replacement heart valve.