Is surgery better for me than medication alone?
Medications often help during the first stages of valve disease, but they don't work as well as the disease gets worse. You don’t need to wait until your symptoms become unbearable before you have surgery. In some cases, it’s best to have surgery before symptoms start. The decision to have surgery is a major one that’s based on your individual needs. It involves input from you, your cardiologist and your surgeon.
Is a heart valve replacement major surgery?
Yes, a heart valve replacement is considered major surgery. However, it may seem less intimidating if you have a minimally invasive type of surgery, which is common.
How long will my valve last?
The amount of time your valve repair or replacement lasts depends on several things:
- Age.
- Whether you have heart valve repair or replacement.
- The type of valve you have placed (for heart valve replacement).
Mechanical valves rarely wear out, but they may need replacement if a blood clot, infection or tissue growth keeps them from working right. Biological valves may need to be replaced, especially if you’re younger.
Will I need to take blood-thinning medication (anticoagulants) after surgery?
The need for anticoagulant medication (blood thinners) after surgery depends on the type of surgery you have. The medication prevents blood clots from forming and causing problems with your heart valve. Currently, warfarin is the only approved blood thinner for mechanical heart valves.
If you have a mechanical heart valve, you’ll need to take this medication for the rest of your life.
If you have valve repair or a biological valve replacement, you may need to take this medication for several weeks after surgery, or maybe not at all.
You may need to take an anticoagulant for a condition not related to your heart valves. This medication also treats:
- An irregular heartbeat.
- An enlarged heart.
- A weakened heart.
- Peoplewith a history of blood clots.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
After talking with you, your surgeon will choose the best option for your heart valve surgery. Once you know what type of surgery you’ll have, you can rally your family and friends to help. You may not be allowed to bend and lift after surgery for a while. Ask people to help you with housework and meal preparation so you can focus on recovering. You can also prepare and freeze meals before your surgery so you can just reheat them while you heal.
