What is Open Heart Replacement or Repair of Heart Valves?

Heart valves ensure that the blood is flowing correctly through your heart. There are four valves in the heart that ensure the correct flowing of blood through your heart. These are tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve, mitral valve, and aortic valve, of which anyone can be diseased or fail to work properly. This leads to serious illness. When the valves are damaged or diseased and stop working in the way they should, then they require to be repaired or replaced. Conditions that may cause heart valve dysfunction include valve regurgitation (leaky valve) and valve stenosis (stiffness). To treat the diseased valves, heart valve surgery is carried out.

In heart valve surgery, the surgeon replaces or repairs the affected heart valves by using several surgical approaches. These include open-heart surgery or minimally invasive heart surgery. The process includes a large incision that is made in the chest and the heart is stopped for some time so that the surgeon is able to repair or replace the valve(s). To carry the process, there are newer and less invasive techniques introduced. These include smaller incisions which means lesser pain as well as shorter stays at the hospital. The treatment is based on the patient’s age, his/her health, and the condition of the heart valve.

The diseased valve may be repaired with the help of a ring to support the diseased valve, or the valve may be removed and replaced with an artificial valve. The artificial valve may be made of carbon-coated plastic or tissue that may be made from human valves taken from donors or animal valves. The patient and the doctor will discuss the pros and cons of every type and decide which might be the best option.

Who Needs a Heart Valve Replacement Surgery?

Valve repair or replacement surgery made be required by anyone who is suffering from problems caused by one or more diseased heart valves. Given below are the symptoms of the diseased heart valve(s):

• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Palpitations
• Breathing difficulty
• Edema (swelling) of feet, abdomen (belly), or ankles
• Rapid weight gain due to fluid retention

There may be other reasons as well for which the healthcare provider may suggest heart valve repair or replacement.

What Happens During a Heart Valve Surgery?

Surgery for heart valve repair or replacement requires hospitalisation. The procedure may vary with the condition of the patient as well as the practice of the healthcare provider. However, the general process is given below:

• The patient will be asked to change into a hospital gown after removing any jewelry or other objects that may interfere with the procedure. The patient will be positioned on the operating table.
• The healthcare professional will begin with an intravenous (IV) line in the patient’s arm/hand for injection of medicine and give IV fluids. More vessels will be put in the blood vessels of the neck and wrist to monitor status of heart and blood pressure and take blood samples.
• Breathing tubes will be put through the patient’s mouth to the lungs and connect him/her to the ventilator.
• The doctor will place a echocardiogram (TEE) probe into the oesophagus to monitor the functioning of the valves. Also, a soft tube will be put through the mouth into the stomach to drain stomach fluids.
• The patient’s chest will be cleaned. A cut will be made down the center of the chest. In case of less invasive procedure, smaller incisions are made.
• The breastbone is then cut in half lengthwise to expose the heart.
• The doctor will stop the heart to perform the treatment and put tubes into the heart so that a heart lung bypass machine can pump blood.
• In case of replacement, the doctor will remove the diseased valve and put the artificial valve. In case of repair, the treatment will be done on the basis of valve problem the patient has.
• The doctor will shock the heart with small paddles to restart the heartbeat after surgery and allow the blood circulation through the bypass machine.
• After the heart starts beating again, the doctor will monitor the functioning and ensure that there are no leaks from the surgery.
• Wires may be put for pacing into the heart. The wires can be attached to a pacemaker for the initial time of recovery.
• The doctor will rejoin the sternum by sewing it together with small wires.
• Tubes will be put into the chest to drain fluids from around the heart.
• The skin will be sewed back together to close the incision. A sterile bandage or dressing will be applied.

Risks of Heart Valve Repair or Replacement Surgery

Listed below are possible risks of heart valve repair or replacement surgery:

• Bleeding during or after the surgery
• Stroke
• Pancreatitis
• Infection
• Pneumonia
• Breathing problems
• The repaired or replaced valve does not work properly
• Death

There may be other risk factors associated with the repair/replacement of the heart valve depending on specific medical conditions of the patient.

Health Insurance Plans for Open Heart Replacement or Repair of Heart Valves

Looking at the severity of the illness, it is important to opt for a critical illness health insurance policy even if you already have a standard health insurance policy. This is because regular health insurance only covers the expenses up to the sum insured limit. But a critical illness policy will give the amount in a lump sum in a single transaction.

There are many reliable health insurance plans in the market that cover expenses related to the illness. HDFC Ergo Health Optima Vital policy, Edelweiss Criticare+ plan, ManipalCigna Lifestyle Protection Critical Care plan, and Reliance Critical Illness policy are a few to name. The policies offer a lump sum amount to the insured on the diagnosis of the critical illness, which the insured can use as per his/her own choice. The money can be used to pay off debts, get treated on foreign land, or to make lifestyle changes required due to the illness.

Why Buy Critical Health Insurance Online for Open Heart Replacement at InsuranceDekho?

InsuranceDekho offers a smooth process when it comes to buying health insurance plans for open heart replacement or repair of heart valves online. It offers a quick, paperless, and transparent process that does not take much time for potential customers. On purchasing a critical illness insurance policy at InsuranceDekho, you get the following benefits:

• Multiple health insurance quotes from popular insurers for open heart replacement or repair of heart valves
• Quick policy issuance
• Post policy purchase assistance
• Help from experts at the time of purchasing a policy
• Flexible modes of payment offered
• Assistance during filing a claim settlement
• Online premium calculator available to get an estimate of health insurance premium even before buying a policy