Aortic valve replacement
After an aortic valve replacement, you'll usually need to stay in hospital for about a week.
The time it takes to fullyrecover varies depending on factors such as your age and overall health.
Your breastbone will usually heal inaboutsix to eightweeks, but it may be two to three months before you feel your normal self again.
You'll usually stay in an intensive care unit (ICU) for the first day or two afteryour operation, before moving to a surgical ward.
While you're in the ICU:
When you're taken off the ventilator, a mask will be placed over your mouth and nose to supply oxygen for you to breathe.
You'll be moved from the ICU to a surgical ward once the doctors treating you think you're ready.
You may have several tubes and monitors attached to you during the first few days of your stay.
These could include:
Your care team will focus on increasing your appetite and getting you back on your feet.
Someone from the cardiac rehabilitation team or physiotherapy department will give you adviceabout getting back to normal, and where there is a cardiac rehabilitation programme or support group in your area.
The aim is to help you recover quickly and get back to living as full and active a life as you can, while preventing further heart problems.
Depending on how well you progress, you should be able to leave the hospital about a week after your operation.
Before going home, you'll be given advice about caring for your wound and any activities you need to avoid until you've recovered.
You'll need to take things easy at first. Starting gentle exercise such as walking can be helpful when you feel up to it, but don't try to do too much too quickly.
Your doctor or surgeon can give you specific advice about when you can return to your normal activities, but generally speaking:
While at home, you may experience sometemporary side effects that should start to improve as you recover. These can include:
Speak to your GP or cardiac nursefor advice if you're struggling to cope with the after effects of your operation or they don't seem to be improving.
Contact your GP if you experience:
These symptoms could be a sign of a problem such as an infection. .
Aortic valve
The aortic valve is the valve that controls the flow of blood out of the left ventricle of the heart, to the aorta (the bodys main artery).
An aortic valve replacement involves removing a faulty or damaged valve and replacing it with a new one made from synthetic materials or animal tissue. It's a major operation that isn't suitable for everyone.
An aortic valve replacement is used to treat conditions affecting the aortic valve. These are known as aortic valve diseases.Without treatment, severe aortic valve disease is likely to get worse and may eventually be fatal.
An aortic valve replacement is a major operation and will only be carried out if you're well enough to have surgery. There are two main types of replacement valve: mechanical valves and biological valves.
After an aortic valve replacement, you'll usually need to stay in hospital for about a week. Your breastbone will usually heal in about six to eight weeks, but it may be two to three months before you feel your normal self again.
Like any type of surgery, anaortic valve replacement is associated with a number of complications. Fortunately, serious problems are uncommon. The risk of experiencing complications is generally higher for older people and those in generally poor health.
Aortic valve replacement is the most effective treatment for aortic valve diseases. However, it can place tremendous strain on the body and alternatives procedures may be needed.
Mike Tennant found a new lease of life having his aortic valve replaced. "I had the operation just before Christmas and it's given me a new lease of life." says Mike.