Aortic valve replacement
Okay, imagine your heart is like a car engine, constantly pumping blood to keep you alive. Now, just like a car engine has a fuel injection system that lets fuel in and out, your heart also has valves that let blood go in and out.
One of these valves is the aortic valve, which is like a door located between the left ventricle (a chamber in the heart that pumps blood out to the rest of the body) and the aorta (the major blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood away from the heart). It opens up to let blood flow out of the heart, and then closes to prevent the blood from flowing back into the heart.
Sometimes, due to a disease or aging, the aortic valve can become damaged or narrowed, making it harder for blood to flow out of the heart. This can cause symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, and tiredness, and can even lead to heart failure and death.
To fix this problem, doctors can perform a procedure called aortic valve replacement, which means they replace the damaged valve with a new one. There are two main types of aortic valve replacements: mechanical and biological.
A mechanical valve is made of artificial materials like metal or ceramic, and works just like a natural valve. It lasts longer than a biological valve, but requires the patient to take blood thinning medicine for the rest of their life.
A biological valve, on the other hand, is made from animal or human tissue, and does not require blood thinning medicine. However, it may wear out over time and need to be replaced again.
The surgery to replace the valve is done while the patient is under general anesthesia, which means they are completely asleep and feel no pain. The surgeon makes a small incision in the chest, removes the damaged valve, and sews in the new valve. The patient then spends a few days in the hospital, recovering and being monitored to ensure everything is working properly.
Overall, aortic valve replacement is a life-saving procedure that helps patients with damaged valves breathe easier and live longer.
One of these valves is the aortic valve, which is like a door located between the left ventricle (a chamber in the heart that pumps blood out to the rest of the body) and the aorta (the major blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood away from the heart). It opens up to let blood flow out of the heart, and then closes to prevent the blood from flowing back into the heart.
Sometimes, due to a disease or aging, the aortic valve can become damaged or narrowed, making it harder for blood to flow out of the heart. This can cause symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, and tiredness, and can even lead to heart failure and death.
To fix this problem, doctors can perform a procedure called aortic valve replacement, which means they replace the damaged valve with a new one. There are two main types of aortic valve replacements: mechanical and biological.
A mechanical valve is made of artificial materials like metal or ceramic, and works just like a natural valve. It lasts longer than a biological valve, but requires the patient to take blood thinning medicine for the rest of their life.
A biological valve, on the other hand, is made from animal or human tissue, and does not require blood thinning medicine. However, it may wear out over time and need to be replaced again.
The surgery to replace the valve is done while the patient is under general anesthesia, which means they are completely asleep and feel no pain. The surgeon makes a small incision in the chest, removes the damaged valve, and sews in the new valve. The patient then spends a few days in the hospital, recovering and being monitored to ensure everything is working properly.
Overall, aortic valve replacement is a life-saving procedure that helps patients with damaged valves breathe easier and live longer.
Related topics others have asked about: