Heart valve surgery

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Heart, front view	Heart, section through the middle	Heart valves - anterior view	Heart valves - superior view
Heart valve surgery - series

Valve replacement; Valve repair; Heart valve prosthesis

The success rate of heart valve surgery is high. The operation can relieve your symptoms and prolong your life.

The death rate averages 2% to 5%, depending on the heart valve. About 2 of every 3 patients who received an artificial mitral valve are still alive 9 years after the surgery.

The clicking of the mechanical heart valve may be heard in the chest. This is normal.

You will stay in an intensive care unit for the first 2 or 3 days following the operation. Your heart functions will be monitored constantly. The average hospital stay is 1-2 weeks. Complete recovery will take a few weeks to several months, depending on your health before surgery.

Review Date: 05/30/2006
Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.