Benefits and Risks of Heart Valve Surgery

If you’re eligible for heart valve surgery, there’s a chance your mitral valve disease or aortic valve disease is at a serious level; you cannot ignore the disease when it is this severe, and medication will not be able to manage the damage or the symptoms you’re experiencing. Talk to a heart valve surgeon about the surgery and find out if you are a good candidate for it. Find out what type of heart valve surgery is the best for your current condition. Be armed with many questions for your doctor. Surgery is a big deal, and it’s important to be an informed patient.

Surgery can be scary, but it can also save your life. As with any surgery, there are benefits and risks to both mitral valve and aortic valve surgery (TAVR, mini-AVR). For this article, we want to share with you some of the benefits and risks of this surgery to help you have a better idea of what is involved.

Minimally-Invasive Heart Valve Surgery Benefits

Quicker, more comfortable surgery compared to open-heart surgery

Tiny scar(s), which are usually hidden

Minimal pain post-op

Fewer wound infections, complications

Short hospital stay

Fast turnaround back to normal daily activities

Restored strength and energy

Longer life

Preservation of heart function

Longer durability on repairs over replacements

Lower risk of stroke and infection

No need to use blood thinners

Lifestyle will improve due to a healthier heart

Minimally-Invasive Heart Valve Surgery Risks

Blood clots and blood leakage around the valve

Inflammation of the heart lining (endocarditis)

Heart attack

Stroke

Irregular heartbeat

Breathing complications

Infections in heart valves, chest, bladder, kidneys, lungs or other areas of the body

Damage to other organs, nerves, or bones

Kidney failure

Wounds not healing properly

Death

As stated above, there are benefits and risk with ANY type of surgery. The best option for most patients with severe mitral valve disease or aortic valve disease is surgery, as medications cannot repair the valve. Valve repair (if possible) is often better than replacement because it provides better heart function, a lower risk of complications, a longer lifespan, and doesn’t require the life-long use of blood thinners. Tampa heart valve surgeon, Dr. Peter Mikhail, discusses all benefits and risks of heart valve surgery with his patients.

If you have a history of heart disease in your family or currently suffer from heart disease, it’s time to talk to a heart valve surgeon. Dr. Peter Mikhail is a heart valve surgeon who specializes in mitral valve surgery and TAVR. To book a consult, click our heart valve surgery page or call 727-312-4844. He is based in New Port Richey, Florida, and treats patients in the Tampa and Clearwater.

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