Your Notifications
All done, no notifications

Heart Double Valve Replacement: Symptoms, Classification, Diagnosis & Recovery

Double valve surgery is described as a surgical procedure where two heart valves are repaired or replaced during the same operation. The heart has four valves—two atrioventricular valves (mitral and tricuspid) and two semilunar valves (aortic and pulmonary). These valves play a crucial role in ensuring blood flows in the correct direction through the heart. The heart valves play a crucial role in allowing nutrient-rich blood to flow through the heart's chambers. Ideally, each valve should close completely after guiding blood flow. However, when heart valves are diseased, they may not function properly.

Double valve surgery becomes necessary when both the aortic and mitral valves or both the mitral and tricuspid valves are affected by disease or dysfunction. The reasons for double valve surgery include:

Stenosis, which is the narrowing of blood vessels, reduces the normal blood flow to the heart, making the muscle work harder. Leaky valves, known as regurgitation, occur when a valve doesn't close tightly, allowing blood to flow backward. This can lead to symptoms of valvular heart disease, including fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, cyanosis, chest pain, and fluid retention, especially in the lower limbs.

Heart valve repair is an option for treating valvular heart disease, but in some cases where the damage is severe, a total replacement of the affected valve may be the only solution.

There are two main types of replacement valves for treating faulty heart valves: mechanical and biological valves

Mechanical Valves: These are artificial components made from materials like carbon and polyester, well-tolerated by the human body. They serve the same purpose as natural heart valves and have a lifespan of 10 to 20 years. However, a drawback is the risk of blood clots. If you get a mechanical heart valve, you'll need to take blood thinners for life to reduce the risk of stroke.

Biologic Valves (Bioprosthetic Valves): These valves are crafted from human or animal tissue. There are three types:

  • Allograft or Homograft: Made from tissue taken from a human donor's heart.
  • Porcine Valve: Crafted from pig tissue, it can be implanted with or without a frame (stent).
  • Bovine Valve: Made from cow tissue and connected to the heart with silicone rubber.

Some of the symptoms of valvular heart disease include the following:

  • Fluid retention in the lower limbs
  • Chest pain
  • Fatigue and light-headedness
  • Dizziness and shortness of breath
  • Cyanosis

Before undergoing heart double valve surgery, various diagnostic tests are typically performed to assess the condition of the heart and determine the necessity and feasibility of the surgery These tests performed may vary depending on the individual patient's health, medical history, and the recommendations of the healthcare team. These tests help the medical team gather crucial information about the structure and function of the heart valves, as well as overall cardiovascular health. Some common diagnostic tests include:

  • Echocardiogram: This ultrasound test provides detailed images of the heart's structure and function, allowing the medical team to assess the condition of the heart valves, including any signs of stenosis or regurgitation.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): This test measures the electrical activity of the heart to identify irregularities in heart rhythm and detect any signs of heart damage.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): An MRI provides detailed images of the heart's structures and can reveal information about the size and function of the heart chambers and valves.
  • Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: This technique uses X-rays to create cross-sectional images of the heart, helping to assess the anatomy and identify any structural abnormalities.
  • Stress Test: This test measures the heart's response to physical exertion and can help assess cardiovascular fitness and identify any exercise-induced abnormalities. Pulmonary Function Tests: These tests assess lung function and help determine if the lungs are healthy enough to withstand the changes associated with heart surgery.

Post-surgery, the patient is shifted to the ICU for close monitoring for several days. Blood pressure, ECG tracing, breathing rate, and oxygen levels are closely studied. You may require staying in the hospital for several days after heart valve replacement surgery. With the help of the ventilator, breathing is assisted via a tube inserted in the throat. The breathing machine will be further adjusted as the patient keeps growing stable and once the patient can breathe and cough on their own, the tube is removed.

Along with this, the stomach tube is also removed. Every two hours, a nurse would help the patient take deep breaths and cough. This feels sore but is vital to prevent the accumulation of mucus in the lungs and prevent pneumonia. The patient is taught to hug a pillow tightly while coughing to ease out any discomfort. The patient must express discomfort felt at coughing and medications are suggested accordingly. Slowly fluid intake is initiated and you can gradually increase your daily activities such as walking around the room. After a few days, the patient is shifted to the recovery room where the rest of the recovery takes place before discharge.

You can notify your doctor if you feel swelling and redness around the incision area, fevers, chills, or pain in the area of the incision. You should rest and keep the surgical area as clean as possible at home.

Please Enquire

Required | alphabets and spaces
Required | A valid, working email address
Required | A valid contact

NOTE: With this information, I as a user, give MediGence the permission to access my healthcare related data and information to help me get the expert opinion. Read our Privacy Policy for more information.

Best Heart Double Valve Replacement Hospitals

Mount Elizabeth Hospital

Mount Elizabeth Hospital

Singapore, Singapore

Mount Elizabeth Hospital is a multispecialty healthcare facility operated by Parkway Health. The hos...more

FACILITIES

phone in the room SIM

Free Wifi

Translator

Health Insurance Coordination

Joint Commission International, or JCI
Saudi German Hospital

Saudi German Hospital

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Saudi German Hospital is one of the largest private hospitals belonging to the SGH Group which is th...more

FACILITIES

Post-Surgery Care Services

Free Wifi

Rehabilitation

Health Insurance Coordination

Joint Commission International, or JCI

Quironsalud Barcelona Hospital is built at a very convenient location in Barcelona. The hospital is ...more

FACILITIES

Private Rooms

Foreign Currency Exchange

Rehabilitation

Free Wifi

Joint Commission International, or JCIISO 9001

Consult Online with World’s Best Heart Double Valve Replacement

View All Doctors
Dr. Gaurav Gupta
Dr. Gaurav Gupta

Cardiac Surgeon

Delhi, India

23 of experience

USD  45 for video consultation

Dr. Amit Chaudhary
Dr. Amit Chaudhary

Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon

Faridabad, India

18 of experience

USD  48 for video consultation

Dr. Debmalya Saha
Dr. Debmalya Saha

Cardiac Surgeon

Kolkata, India

8 of experience

USD  36 for video consultation

Dr. Dinesh Chandra
Dr. Dinesh Chandra

Cardiac Surgeon

Delhi, India

20 of experience

USD  35 for video consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How long will the heart valve surgery last?

A. Mechanical valves last for 25 years in some patients without problems. It is possible that a new artificial valve could last for the rest of the life. But in some situations, mechanical valves require replacement within months or a few years.

Q. Does the valve replacement require special care to prevent infection?

A. The doctor may prescribe certain antibiotics to fight infections.

Q. Is it safe to have an X-ray after heart valve replacement?

A. All types of heart valve replacements are safe with X-ray examination.

Q. Is it safe to have magnetic resonance imaging after heart valve replacement?

A. Usually, the valves are found to be safe during magnetic resonance imaging. The physician must be contacted before performing the test.

Q. What is the advantage of a tissue valve over a mechanical valve?

A. The tissue valve does not require blood thinning medications whereas mechanical valves require the patients to take blood thinning medications for the rest of their lives.

Q. What are the risks associated with double valve replacement surgery?

A. Some of the risks associated with double valve replacement surgery include bleeding during and after surgery, pneumonia, and the formation of blood clots that can cause heart attacks

Explore Top Hospitals Worldwide for Heart Double Valve Replacement

Explore Top Hospitals for Heart Double Valve Replacement

Author

Dr. Shagufta Parveen

Doctor of Pharmacy

1.5 Years of Experience

Dr. Shagufta Parveen is a medical and scientific content writer with expertise in clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics. She holds a B.Pharm and Doctor of Pharmacy (Post-Baccalaureate) degree from Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad. During her clinical stint at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital and Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, she gained hands-on experience in the Clinical Pharmacology Department. Combining scientific knowledge with strong medical writing skills, Dr. Shagufta develops evidence-based healthcare content, treatment guides, and patient education resources. Her work focuses on simplifying complex medical concepts while maintaining scientific accuracy, helping readers better understand healthcare advancements and treatment options. . View More

Reviewer

Dr. Naresh Kumar Goyal

Cardiologist

21 Years of Experience

Dr. Naresh Kumar Goyal is highly trained as a cardiologist with exposure in virtually all aspects of cardiology. He qualified with an MD in internal medicine in 1999 from SMS Medical College, Jaipur, and served in the Cardiology Department as an honorary resident. From this stage, he also started with training in the temporary pacing of the pacemaker as well as interventional services. View More