Possible complications after heart valve replacement

Heart valve replacement surgery does not completely cure stenosis or valve regurgitation, but only helps to change the disease to a more stable state, reducing shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations... To maintain the results after heart valve replacement, patients still Regular monitoring and medication should be taken. Postoperative re-stenosis can occur in both mechanical and biological valves due to thrombosis, infection, degeneration, or calcification of the valve. This is the most worrisome problem in patients with valvular heart disease.

Like many other surgeries, valve replacement has certain risks, but in general, valve replacement surgery today is quite safe. With the methods of mitral valve replacement, transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement, or percutaneous aortic valve replacement (TAVI), it does not make the patient lose much strength and the intervention time is also very fast, causing less danger compared to other methods. open surgery method.
Most of the risks after valve replacement are due to side effects of anticoagulants, or the use of inappropriate anticoagulant doses or the patient's infection or infection.

Heart valve occlusion due to blood clots The case of thrombosis that blocks the prosthetic heart valve accounts for 0.3 - 1.3% of heart valve replacement patients every year, mainly in people who stop anticoagulants suddenly or change anticoagulant dose. Warning signs of heart valve blockage due to thrombosis that patients may experience include: fatigue or worsening shortness of breath that lasts for several days. Mild cases can be treated with thrombolytic drugs, severe cases need a second valve replacement surgery or thrombectomy. Therefore, if a patient after heart valve replacement shows any of the above symptoms, they should quickly go to a specialized medical facility for timely examination and treatment.
Stroke This is a fairly common condition after a heart valve replacement, the result of a blood clot around the mechanical valve detaching, following the blood flow, blocking a blood vessel in the brain. Stroke is very dangerous, has a high mortality rate and leaves serious consequences for patients after treatment. Stroke warning signs that patients need to pay special attention to.
There is a sudden feeling of numbness in the face, limbs or half of the body. Fainting, loss of consciousness, lethargy or confusion in answering questions. Blurred vision, double vision, triple vision. Dizziness, lightheadedness, loss of balance or difficulty with coordination. Severe headache.

Myocardial Infarction Myocardial infarction can occur suddenly, without obvious signs, but can also start from dull chest pain, feeling of heaviness in the chest or chest discomfort. Patients do not even notice, or subjectively do not visit until the condition begins to get worse.
Symptoms of a heart attack that patients need to pay special attention to include:
Heart attack may be accompanied by a feeling of shortness of breath, cold sweats all over, dizziness, nausea, ... If present, The above symptoms should take the patient to the emergency room immediately.
Infective endocarditis is an infection of the endocardial surface of the heart. Infective endocarditis is very dangerous, can cause valve foot ulcers, valve prolapse, so patients need to be prevented by taking antibiotics before and after the procedure related to bleeding. Maintain oral hygiene to prevent this complication. Therefore, patients need to take prophylactic antibiotics before and after the actual procedure.
Signs to identify infective endocarditis that patients need to pay attention to:
High fever for many days without cause, chills, joint pain, loss of appetite, fatigue... Complications of endocarditis Cardiomyopathy is very dangerous, so if you have the above symptoms, you need to quickly go to a specialized medical facility for examination and treatment.

1.2. Bleeding with prolonged anticoagulation The risk of bleeding in patients with valve replacement is about 1%, more commonly with mechanical valves. These patients should be carefully monitored.
1.3. Degenerated valves Biological valves have a shorter lifespan than mechanical valves and gradually degrade over time, the average lifespan of biological valves is 8-10 years after surgery. Currently, according to cardiologists, the number of patients with biological valve replacement is quite small, except for a few other special cases.
1.4. This complication occurs when there is slip of the valve suture, infection, fibrosis or calcification around the valve annulus. This event is benign if it is only mild, but if it is severe, it requires reoperation.

Caring for patients after heart valve replacement surgery is very important to quickly improve health and reduce risks.. According to cardiologists, patients need prevention methods, specifically as follows:
Prevention of inflammation endocardium
Take good care of your oral health, have regular dental check-ups and brush your teeth with antibacterial toothpaste twice daily. Avoid piercings (ear, nose piercing, navel piercing) and tattooing.

Do not arbitrarily inject any medicine without the consent of the doctor If there are any signs of infection, it is necessary to notify the doctor immediately for early treatment. Prevention of stroke and myocardial infarction
Take anticoagulants as indicated Regular check-ups at the request of the doctor See any abnormal signs, need to go to the hospital immediately, not subjective because these complications are all very dangerous, can even cause death if not treated in time. Good control of blood pressure, blood fat; Take medication if required, eat light meals, reduce fat and measure blood pressure regularly.

First, patients need to be aware that the use of anticoagulants after mechanical valve replacement surgery is very important. Immediately after surgery, the doctor will prescribe anticoagulants and monitor daily during the hospital stay to adjust the dose to suit each patient.
When the patient reaches a stable index, he will be discharged from the hospital and schedule a follow-up appointment. Patients must have regular check-ups and take anticoagulants according to the doctor's prescription, take the right dose, take them regularly, and do not stop taking them suddenly for any reason without the doctor's opinion.
If the patient shows signs such as: Bleeding gums (naturally or after brushing teeth), nosebleeds, bruises under the skin, black stools, vomiting blood, red urine, blood volume If you have a heavy menstrual period... (maybe due to drug overdose) or chest tightness, shortness of breath... (possibly stuck valve), you need to go to the hospital right away for a cardiologist to check and treat.

Patients who are taking anticoagulants should not self-administer other drugs (including tonics, vitamins), when necessary, consult a doctor and carefully read the instructions for use.
When a patient has to go to the hospital (because of an accident, illness, etc.), the doctor must be informed that he is taking anticoagulants and is wearing an artificial heart valve.
If a woman wants to have a baby, she must immediately notify the doctor for specific instructions, especially on the day of childbirth.
Diet affects treatment results
In addition to regular and regular adherence to medication, diet is also very important, greatly affecting the effectiveness of anticoagulants.
Foods that can interfere with anticoagulants Many foods contain vitamin K that interferes with the effect of this medicine. Patients should limit their intake of dark green leafy vegetables that are rich in vitamin K. Patients need to eat a relatively equal amount of vegetables in their daily diets, avoiding many changes in meals.
Things to note after surgery During the hospital stay
Deep breathing and coughing exercises: Coughing reduces blood stasis in the lungs, reducing the risk of pneumonia. When sleeping, you should lie on your side and turn over every few hours. After 2 days of surgery, you can walk for short distances.

Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital has performed the heart valve replacement technique (mitral valve and aortic valve) with very positive results with the success rate of surgery up to 90%, the rate of maintenance High pulmonary valve reserve.
The surgery was performed by Dr. BS.Nguyen Luong Tan - Head of Cardiology Department - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital. The doctor is an expert in the field of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in adults and children. The doctor is well-trained in the country and many centers have the world's leading medical background such as France, Australia,...
Along with that is the support from a system of modern equipment and machines that are used by the patient. Investment hospital for surgeries: Maquet's HR20 Artificial Cardiopulmonary System, Avance CS2 Anesthesia Machine, GE's R860 Ventilator, the world's most modern IGS730 Hybrid Operating Room.