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Heart valve replacement surgery is considered to be one of the most delicate and complicated procedures. The rate of survival helps to predict the life expectancy of a person post-surgery. However, various factors include the survival rate. Before we understand the survival rate, let us look at some of the factors and risks associated with the procedure and the survival or quality of life.
Table of contents:
How is a heart valve replacement surgery in India performed?
The doctor may choose any one of the two approaches while performing the heart valve replacement surgery. They are as follows.
- Open heart surgery – known to be the traditional form, this surgical procedure involves making a large incision on the chest. For the surgeon to replace or repair the valve, the heart would need to stop working for a while.
- Minimally invasive heart surgery – This is known to be the modern surgical procedure where a small incision is made over the heart so that the doctor or specialist can replace the heart valves.
The materials used to make the artificial replacement valve
The artificial valve used to replace the damaged or diseased valve can be made from the following materials.
- Manufactured mechanical valve: The manufactured mechanical valve is made from carbon-coated plastic and is considered the most durable artificial valve that can last a lifetime.
- Donor’s valve: The donor’s valve has a life expectancy between 10-20years, and an actual human valve is implanted inside the patient’s body.
- Tissue Valve: The tissue valve is a heart valve made from animal tissues or valves and has a post-surgical life expectancy of close to 10-20 years.
The doctor will decide what kind of valve will be best suitable for the patient.
Understanding the risks associated with heart valve replacement surgery
Just like any other surgical procedure, even heart valve replacement surgery has its own set of risks and complications. They are as follows.
- Bleeding after or during the surgery
- Blood clots lodging in different parts of the body like the heart can lead to heart attack, the brain leading to stroke, or even the lungs resulting in difficulty breathing.
- Developing infections of the lungs like pneumonia or on the operative site/wound.
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- Arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)
- Malfunctioning of the new (implanted) valve
What is the survival rate for a heart replacement surgery?
The survival rate of the heart valve replacement surgery in India depends on the valve operated upon. The heart valve replacement survival rate is divided into two main categories – 5- or 10-year survival. The survival rate is referred to as the number of patients that can survive 5 or 10 years out of 100. Let us look at the numbers-
- If a person undergoes aortic valve replacement surgery, the 5-year survival rate is around 94%, while the 10-year survival rate reduces to 84%.
- Those who undergo Mitral valve replacement surgery have a64% 5-year survival rate and a 37% for 10year rate of survival.
- The Pulmonary valve replacement surgery offers a 96% 5-year survival rate and 93% 10-year survival rate.
- Finally, those who undergo the Tricuspid valve replacement surgery have a 79% survival rate under five years and 49% for the 10-year survival rate.
