How long should I stay for Heart Valve Surgery?
How is surgery performed?
What is the post-surgical care?
What are the possible risks and complications?
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How long should I stay for Heart Valve Surgery?
You should stay at least a month to complete a whole process. On your arrival day, you should stay in your hotel to relax from a long flight and have a surgery on the following day. Normally, Open Heart Valve Surgery requires 1-2 weeks in hospital. Post operative check up will be done afterward.
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How is surgery performed?
Heart valve surgery is performed under a general anesthetic. During traditional heart valve surgery, surgeon will make an incision down to the center of your sternum (breastbone). The beat of the heart will be stopped and the heart-lung machine is used. The surgeon then repairs or replaces your heart valve.
Minimally invasive surgery needs smaller incisions, which reduces blood loss, trauma, and length of hospital stay.
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What is the post-surgical care?
For open surgery, after surgery, you will be placed in the ICU. A tube placed down your throat and positioned in your lungs is used to assist your breathing. It is removed as soon as you are able to breathe on your own. Other tubes will drain extra blood and fluid from the surgical area. Fluid, blood, and medications are passed through the vein. Another catheter drains urine from bladder. The heart rate, heart rhythm, blood pressure, and other special pressures and waves are monitored. Medications are given to ease pain and anxiety. Complete recovery will take a few weeks to several months.
For minimally invasive surgery, you may be able to return to work and resume most non-strenuous activities within 2 to 4 weeks. You can resume heavy lifting and other more strenuous activities within 6 to 8 weeks.
Which procedure to be performed depends on patient’s condition and doctor’s decision.
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What are the possible risks and complications?
Just like other surgeries, open surgery may have a problem with bleeding, infection, stroke and heart attack..