The human heart is a marvel of engineering, with its four essential valves working seamlessly. This is to regulate blood flow and maintain cardiac health. However, over time, these valves may become damaged or diseased. This leads to life-threatening conditions. Fortunately, medical science has advanced significantly, providing patients with two viable solutions. These solutions are heart valve replacement and repair surgeries.
If you or a loved one need this surgery, it is crucial to find the best cardiologist in Chandigarh who can provide the highest level of care. Healing Hospital is known for its exceptional cardiology department and has a team of experienced cardiologists. These cardiologists specialize in heart valve replacement and repair surgeries. In this article, we will explore the importance of finding the best cardiologist for Heart Valve Replacement and Repair Surgery. And how Healing Hospital can provide the care you need for a successful surgery and recovery.
Understanding Heart Valve Disorders
Heart valve disorders occur when the valves in the heart fail to function correctly. The four valves in the heart are the mitral valve, tricuspid valve, aortic valve, and pulmonary valve. They play a crucial role in allowing blood to flow in one direction through the chambers of the heart. When they become diseased, they can either fail to close properly (regurgitation) or become narrowed (stenosis), leading to reduced blood flow. And it causes the heart to work harder to maintain circulation.
Common causes of heart valve disorders include congenital heart defects, infections (endocarditis), rheumatic fever, age-related degeneration, and lifestyle factors like smoking and a sedentary lifestyle. If left untreated, heart valve disorders can lead to heart failure, arrhythmias, and other severe complications.
Heart Valve Repair Surgery
Heart valve repair surgery aims to restore the function of the damaged valve, preserving the patient’s natural tissue whenever possible. This procedure is often preferred over replacement because it allows the patient to retain their valve, which can offer better long-term outcomes and cut the need for lifelong anticoagulation medications.
In valve repair surgery, the surgeon may perform various techniques, such as valve decalcification, removal of excess tissue, or repairing torn valve leaflets. These meticulous repairs can enhance the valve’s function, restore normal blood flow, and ease symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue.
Advantages of Heart Valve Repair Surgery
Preserving Natural Tissue –
Retaining the patient’s valve tissue can result in improved durability and lower risks of complications.
Lower Risk of Infection –
Compared to valve replacement, repair surgery carries a lower risk of infection since no foreign materials are introduced into the body.
Reduced Dependency on Medications –
Patients who undergo successful valve repair may not need long-term anticoagulant medications, enhancing their quality of life.
Heart Valve Replacement Surgery
Heart valve replacement surgery involves replacing a damaged or diseased heart valve with an artificial valve or a biological valve (typically from a pig, cow, or human donor). This procedure is necessary when the patient’s valve is severely damaged and cannot be effectively repaired.
There are two main types of heart valve replacements:
Mechanical Valve Replacement-
Mechanical valves are made of durable materials like titanium or carbon and are designed to last a lifetime. They are robust and provide excellent durability but require the patient to take blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants) for the rest of their life to prevent blood clots.
Biological Valve Replacement-
Biological valves are derived from animal or human tissue. They do not require lifelong anticoagulation but may have a limited lifespan, especially in younger patients.
Advantages of Heart Valve Replacement Surgery
Vital Life-saving Option-
Valve replacement surgery is often the only viable option for patients with severely damaged valves, offering a chance at a longer and healthier life.
Avoiding Long-term Complications-
Replacing a severely diseased valve can prevent heart failure and other serious complications associated with untreated heart valve disorders.
Winding Up
In summary, heart valve replacement and repair surgery is a complex and life-saving procedure that requires the expertise of skilled medical professionals. At Healing Hospital, we specialize in providing high-quality care for patients in need of heart valve procedures. To learn more about our services and how we can help, please connect with Healing Hospital. Our team is dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive care to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients.
