Heart Disease Community

Hi:

"a valve transplant"

You mean valve replacement.

"it got shrunked once but then it was opened"

Sounds like it became stenotic (narrowed)

"want to know complications involved in changing valve"

Various problems or complications (emphasized even more so in diabetic patients), during on or off-pump, or anytime after any type of open-heart surgery may/can occur, which includes, but is not limited to, infection, inflammation, fever, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, deep vein thrombosis, plaque and/or calcium deposit disruption in the aorta causing dislodgement, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, heart attack, heart failure, pericarditis, pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, excessive bleeding, neurological/neurocognitive deficits (can be due from being on cardiopulmonary bypass, anesthesia effects or drugs administered during and post-procedure), vessel spasm, bypass graft occlusion or failure (one or more), phrenic nerve dysfunction or damage (dependent on the technique used to access the heart), which affects the diaphragm and breathing, stupor, coma, decreased intellectual function, brain attack (stroke), lung/respiratory problems, kidney dysfunction/failure, acute mesenteric ischemia/mesenteric ischemia, irregular heart/pulse rate (arrhythmia), heart block, metabolic disturbance, electrolyte imbalance, depression, and absolute worst case scenario, sudden cardiac death.

Best of luck to your uncle down the road of life.

Take care,

CardioStar*

WebMD member (since 8/99)

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Patient resources

The hospital/medical center you choose can make a difference...a critical difference. Choose wisely!

Credentials, Experience, Research

U.S. News & World Report

Best Hospitals: Heart & Heart Surgery

http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/heart-and-heart-surgery


An Informational and support site for heart valve replacement patients, and for those who may need this type of major surgery sometime soon.

FORUMS

http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/index.php

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Quote!

"Be a questioning patient. TALK to your DOCTOR and ASK QUESTIONS. Studies show that patients who ask the most questions, and are most assertive, get the best results. Be vigilant and speak up!"

- Charles Inlander, People's Medical Society

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WebMD/WebMD forums DOES NOT provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatnment.

CardiostarUSA1 thanks... also tell me whether both bypass and valve replacement can be done at same time or not... and also what if we dont opt for valve replacement and do only triple bypass this time and schedule valve rplcmnt for nxt surgery

You're welcome.

As reported, in some cases, having coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and valve replacement surgery performed at the same time is applicable.

This mainly depends on the severity of the blockages, which one of the four heart valves is involved, and the severity of leakage (regurgitation) or narrowing (stenosis).

Delaying one of the surgeries for another time, has its pros and cons, but is ultimately up to your uncle and hs doctor(s).

Take good care,

CardioStar*

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WebMD/WebMD forums DOES NOT provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatnment.

WebMD/WebMD DOES NOT endorse any specific product, service or treatment.

thanks again for helping me and relieving weights of tension from my mind... he just had shrunken valve in 1978 when he was in his teens which got opened and since then he had no problem related to valve..he then had angioplasty in 2005... and now blockage in three arteries has been found.. approx 60-70% blockage on average in each....as u know he is also diabetic... just examining the medical history doctr suggested him for valve replacement...although his valve is fine...i was not satisfied with doctrs suggestion of valve replacement since acc. to me it is not reqd. as bypass surgry may not hav any effect on valve...or does it have???thnks again for devoting ur precious time replying me.. also clear the above mentioned doubt also(does double/triple bypass surgry hav any effect on valve...or does it not have )

You're welcome.

"approx 60-70% blockage on average in each...."

Doctors typically consider/perform angioplasty, with or without coronary stents, or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery on blockages of 70%75% or greater in the right coronary artery (RCA), left anterior descending (LAD), left circumflex (LCX) and some of their respective branches, also taking in consideration present symptoms.

"......as bypass surgery may not have any effect on valve...or does it have???"

Technically, it shouldn't, as reported in various medical literature, though sometimes, as applicable to the patient, mainly dependent on the severity of the blockages, if/when causing cardiac or myocardial ischemia (an insufficient amount of blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle) at rest, hypokinesis, that is, low or reduced wall motion or contractility may/can occur in one (regional) or more areas of the heart. Even the entire heart (global) may/can become affected. This, if/when coupled with a bad heart valve, be it stenotic or regurgitive, is obviously not a good thing.

CardioStar*

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The coronary arteries are classified as so-called 'end circulation' since they represent the only source of blood supply to the heart muscle (myocardium). There is very little redundant (auxillary) blood supply (unless sufficient coronary artery collateral circulation has developed), which is why a blockage or blockages in these can be extremely critical.

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WebMD

Living With Heart Disease

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

CAD is chronic disease with no cure. When you have coronary artery disease, it is important to take care of your....

This is especially true if you have had an interventional procedure or surgery to improve blood flow to the heart.../It is up to you to take steps....

Recognize the symptoms......

Reduce your risk factors......

Take your medications......

See your doctor for regular check-ups......

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/living-with-heart-disease

Coronary artery anatomy

Starting with the left anterior descending (LAD), the most critical, next to the ultra-critical left main (LM).

http://www.heartsite.com/html/lad.html

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Heart-Healthy Foods

Nothing complicated, just plain and simple

AVOID foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol. CHOOSE skim or low-fat milk, low-fat yogurt and reduced-fat cheeses. Eat more fish and poultry. LIMIT servings to five to seven ounces a day. TRIM visible fat. Limit egg yolks. SUBSTITUTE two egg whites for one whole egg or use an egg-substitute. Eat more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, breads and cereals. USE LESS salt and fat. SEASON WITH herbs and spices rather than with sauces, gravies and butter

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Good to know, for the primary and secondary prevention of heart attack and brain attack/stroke

Epidemiologic studies (EDS) have revealed risk factors (encompasses some new, novel or emerging) for atherosclerosis, typically affecting the carotid, coronary and peripheral arteries, which includes age, gender, genetics (gene deletion, malfunction or mutation) , diabetes (considered as being the highest risk factor), smoking (includes second and thirdhand), inactivity, obesity (a global epidemic, "globesity"), high blood pressure (hypertension), Low HDL (now questionable, according to recent studies) high LDL, small, dense LDL, RLP (remnant lipoprotein), high Lp(a), high ApoB, high Lp-PLA2, high triglycerides, HDL2b, high homocysteine (now questionable), and high C-reactive protein (CRP/hs-CRP).

thanks for providing loads and tons of information....

You're welcome.

Glad to help whenever I can.

CardioStar*