Heart Valve Operations
The aim of heart valve operations is to treat one or more defects that appear in the heart muscle valves. The nature of the procedure depends on the type of problem the patient is experiencing. There are four types of valves in the heart: the tricuspid valve, the pulmonary valve, the mitral valve, and the aortic valve. Sometimes, a malfunction occurs in one of these valves, necessitating heart valve operations in some cases.
Symptoms of Heart Valve Defects
Symptoms or signs that appear in those affected by heart valve defects include:
- Heart Attacks: Heart attacks are among the symptoms that appear due to a defect in heart valve function, where the patient experiences severe shortness of breath and pain in the upper chest area.
- Blood Clots: Blood clotting is among the symptoms of heart valve defects, resulting from blockages that occur in one of the arteries connected to the heart.
- Irregular Heartbeats: Irregular heartbeats are among the symptoms of heart valve defects, caused by irregular pumping of blood to and from the heart muscle.
Heart Valve Repair or Replacement Operations
Open-heart surgery: Heart valve operations are usually performed through open-heart surgery.
Cardiac catheterization: Sometimes, doctors treat heart valve issues using therapeutic cardiac catheterization.
Robotic surgery: In some technologically advanced treatment centers, heart valve operations are performed using robots controlled by humans.
Heart Valve Restoration Operations
Doctors attempt to restore the valves as much as possible, only resorting to heart valve replacement in cases where valve defects cannot be repaired.
Heart Valve Replacement Operations
When a doctor cannot repair or restore a heart valve, the alternative option is to replace the valve.
