Aortic valve surgery - open - Risks
Alternative Names
Aortic valve replacement; Aortic valvuloplasty; Aortic valve repair; Replacement - aortic valve
Risks:
Risks for any anesthesia are:
- Blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs
- Blood loss
- Breathing problems
- Infection, including in the lungs, kidneys, bladder, chest, or heart valves
- Reactions to medicines
Possible risks from having open heart surgery are:
- Heart attack or stroke
- Heart rhythm problems
- Incision infection, which is more likely to occur in people who are obese, have diabetes, or have already had this surgery
- Infection of the new valve
- Kidney failure
- Memory loss and loss of mental clarity, or "fuzzy thinking"
- Poor healing of the incision
- Post-pericardiotomy syndrome (low-grade fever and chest pain) that could last up to 6 months
- Reviewed last on: 1/26/2011
- Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
References
Fullerton DA, Harken AH. Acquired heart disease: valvular. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 62.
Chiam PTL, Ruiz CE. Percutaneous transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Evolution of the technology. American Heart Journal. Feb 2009;157(2).
Otoo CM, Bonow RO. Valvular heart disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 62.
