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Aortic valve surgery - open - Risks

Alternative Names

Aortic valve replacement; Aortic valvuloplasty; Aortic valve repair; Replacement - aortic valve

Risks:

Risks for any anesthesia are:

Blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs
Blood loss
Breathing problems
Infection, including in the lungs, kidneys, bladder, chest, or heart valves
Reactions to medicines

Possible risks from having open heart surgery are:

Heart attack or stroke
Heart rhythm problems
Incision infection, which is more likely to occur in people who are obese, have diabetes, or have already had this surgery
Infection of the new valve
Kidney failure
Memory loss and loss of mental clarity, or "fuzzy thinking"
Poor healing of the incision
Post-pericardiotomy syndrome (low-grade fever and chest pain) that could last up to 6 months

Reviewed last on: 1/26/2011
Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Fullerton DA, Harken AH. Acquired heart disease: valvular. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 62.

Chiam PTL, Ruiz CE. Percutaneous transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Evolution of the technology. American Heart Journal. Feb 2009;157(2).

Otoo CM, Bonow RO. Valvular heart disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 62.

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Aortic valve surgery - open - Risks

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