Understanding Heart Valve Replacement for Elderly Patients
Heart valve disease, also known as aortic stenosis, is a heart disease that occurs when one or more of the heart’s four valves do not function properly. So, valve replacement surgery becomes an option to repair damaged, fragile, or scarred heart valves. More than three million people opt to have a valve replacement surgery annually.
The most common procedures used in elderly patients to treat valvular defects are valve replacement surgery, heart bypass surgery, or a combination of the two.
It is a fact that over 30 percent of elderly patients need heart valve surgery over 70 years of age while 20 percent undergo heart valve replacement surgery when they are over 75 years of age.
Age factor has always been considered a limitation in case of a heart valve repair or replacement surgery. However, this is no longer the case as today, people over 80 as well can successfully survive a valve replacement or repair surgery.
Patients with increased risk
Before performing surgery on patients over 75, doctors and surgeons look closely at other health issues the elderly patient may have other than age. These health issues may include:
- Previous heart surgery
- Broader coronary artery disease
- Lung disease such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Kidney-related disorders
- Liver cirrhosis
Another factor that seems to affect an elderly patient’s surgery success is the timing of the surgery. The post-surgical results may not be as successful as then the patient or his family waits until the condition requires an emergency room admission.
How serious is a Heart Valve Replacement surgery for an elderly patient?
In elderly patients, valve replacement surgery helps restore a convenient and independent life.
If you or anyone you know is affected by a heart valve disease, consider seeking specialist care from the renowned cardiothoracic surgeons at Yashoda Hospital & Research Centre, Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad. Their advanced expertise and commitment to personalized and evidence-based treatments provide an ideal environment for addressing your specific needs.
Life Expectancy after a Heart Valve Replacement Surgery:
The success rate of a heart valve replacement surgery depends on your health before the operation, the process of surgery, and how you recover after the surgery. All these factors will determine how the heart valve replacement surgery will impact your health.
Given these conditions, various research trends can help us to determine the immediate and long-term effects of common surgical techniques. As per a recent study, a heart valve replacement surgery or open-heart surgery can be performed in patients of 85 years and up with good results. The only factor that affects these people post-surgery is the prolonged hospital stay.
Best Procedure for Heart Valve Replacement Surgery
In aortic stenosis patients, Open heart surgery is not the only option to replace a damaged valve. Another safe and effective medical procedure called Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is generally preferred.
It is a less invasive technique for replacing the heart’s aortic valve than the traditional open-heart surgery and is performed by passing a replacement valve through a leg or shoulder artery and placing it in the correct position in the heart.
The Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) technique has replaced the surgical aortic valve replacement procedure and is considered the new therapeutic option for patients suffering from severe symptomatic aortic stenosis.
Some Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What about aortic valve replacement in a 90-year-old patient?
Ans: There are certain risks associated with every medical procedure; the decision to opt for surgery depends on the elderly patients and their doctors.
Q: Will I need another valve replacement surgery even if I have already had one at the age of 65?
Ans: This situation depends on several factors, including the health of the other valves at the time. With the help of modern medicines, nutrition and fitness regimes people with heart valve issues can live longer lives.
Post-Surgical Care Options
Various in-hospital rehabilitation and outpatient visiting therapist services offer a wide range of post-surgical care which have no end.
However, Yashoda Hospital & Research Centre, Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, balances inpatient care with home comfort. It provides 24/7 care along with plenty of amenities, healthy meals and convenient services. For any heart related ailments, visit Yashoda Hospital.
Meet Our Expert Doctors:
Dr. Yatin Arora is a Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery Consultant at Yashoda Hospital and Research Centre, Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad. Dr. Arora has completed M.Ch. (CTVS) at AIIMS, Delhi. Experienced in surgeries, teaching, and publications in medical journals.
Dr. Ankur Agrawal is a Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeon at Yashoda Hospital and Research Centre, Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad. Dr. Agrawal specialises in adult & pediatric cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgeries.
