If an aneurysm formation takes place in the aortic root, it may need to be treated with a graft to avert rupture. The aortic valve may need to be replaced when the aneurysm is healed. Our surgeons at the Dr.Muthus Hospitals in India have specialized training in the complex repair and replacement of aortic root aneurysm-affected valves.
Our surgeons can perform valve-sparing surgery, which keeps your aortic valve in good working order. We frequently use minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat patients who have been declined surgery by doctors.
The valve-sparing operation is one such surgical procedure that is carried out to treat the aneurysm. The procedure follows-
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You won’t be allowed to eat or drink anything before the valve-sparing operation. The doctor would ask about the medication and whether or not you should take it. To provide drugs, fluids, and sedatives, an IV will be put into your arm or hand.
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You will be put under anaesthesia in the operating room and will be sleeping during the process.
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To know the status of your heart, your surgeon will create an incision in your chest and separate your breastbone.
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Your surgeon will make smaller incisions and just partially divide the breastbone by the valve-sparing operation.
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You'll be undergoing a heart-lung bypass machine, which will pump your blood while keeping your heart still during the procedure.
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The aneurysm-affected section of the aorta will be removed, and the vessel will be connected with a graft.
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Before joining the transplant, your surgeon may repair or reinforce the valve also.
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Your circulatory system will then be restarted and you will be taken off bypass. The wound will be closed with the breastbone rejoining.
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You’ll be under observation for the rest of the day to make sure about your health conditions.
Symptoms
There are a lot of signs and symptoms of why someone would need a valve-sparing operation.
If the symptoms are of thoracic aortic aneurysms; they would be-
- Pain in the jaw
- Pain in the neck
- Pain in the upper back
- Pain in the chest
- Coughing
- Hoarseness
- Difficulty breathing
Symptoms
If the symptoms are of abdominal aortic aneurysms; they would be
- Pulsating enlargement
- tender mass
- Pain in the back
- Pain in the abdomen
- Pain in the groin, not relieved with position change or pain killers
Risks
There are many risk factors if the aneurysms aren’t treated.
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Age- when a person is over or around 65, they are more prone to thoracic and other aortic aneurysms.
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Tobacco use- is one of the leading risk factors associated with abdominal and related aortic aneurysms.
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High blood pressure- high blood pressure can damage the blood vessels and contribute to the thoracic and related aortic aneurysms.
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Plagues buildup- Fat and other substances can build up around the blood vessels and damage their lining. It is common in older people and causes abdominal aortic aneurysms.
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Family genes and history- Young people can also acquire thoracic and related aortic aneurysms if they have a family history of the same.
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Marfan syndrome and related factors- conditions like Loeys-Dietz syndrome, Marfan syndrome or vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can contribute to the same.
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Bicuspid aortic valve- if you have 2 cusps instead of 3, you’ll be prone to thoracic and related aortic aneurysms.
Risks related to surgery
Every procedure has its own set of risks and concerns, and so does the valve-sparing operation. These may be exclusive if not carried by a medical professional and hence one needs to make sure they’re undergoing the surgery with safe hands.
Although this operation has minimal complications; the following risk factors are-
- Internal Bleeding
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Stroke
- The valve may wear out
- Irregular heartbeat
- Kidney problems
Diagnosis
Medical tests including physical examinations, routine check-ups, ultrasounds, CT scans, and X-ray scans can detect thoracic and related aortic aneurysms.
One will be required to tell the medical history and previous medications if taken. The family history is also evaluated in the same way.
If the preliminary examinations confirm the presence of aortic aneurysms, doctors will conduct the secondary examinations to give the suitable treatment.
These secondary examinations would include screen tests like CT scans and X-rays to know the status of the patients.
Treatment
Since the valve-sparing operation is a surgical procedure, many complications and risks can be followed up. Doctors would let you go through with the aftercare plans and how to prevent the surgery from risks. One needs to follow all the necessities and further move for the surgery.
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It is carried out with the help of a general anaesthetic
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To validate your heart, a big cut (incision) roughly 25cm long is made in your chest. (though a smaller cut may be performed on occasion).
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During the procedure, your heart is stopped and a heart-lung (bypass) machine takes control.
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Your heart is restarted and the opening in your chest is closed after the damaged or malfunctioning valve is removed and replaced.
Why Choose Dr.Muthus Hospitals in India?
At Dr.Muthus Hospitals in India, we try to provide services close to home that benefit the entire community. We aim to treat each person as an individual, not a patient, an ailment, or an appointment – it’s central to all we do. One passion drives our commitment to education, research, and the people we serve: linking our patients, team members, and communities to their health.
Dr.Muthus Hospitals is a state-of-the-art Multi Specialty Hospital with World-Class Medical Infrastructure and an expert team of highly skilled doctors providing Comprehensive Medical Care in various super specialties including Cardiac Sciences. With a long history of trust, more than a decade of experience, we have cutting-edge cardiac treatment methods with new techniques being introduced frequently for the benefit of the patients. The hospital has established itself as a leading and sought medical treatment destination in India for cardiac care.
FAQs
Doctors at Dr.Muthus Hospitals in India will provide a proper diagnosis and treatment plan for the aortic aneurysms, but if there is no other way out, we recommend valve Sparing Operation.
The aortic valve can be replaced for the following 2 reasons-
- The valve has narrowed (aortic stenosis) – the opening of the valve becomes smaller, obstructing the flow of blood out of the heart.
- The aortic valve is leaking (aortic regurgitation) and permits blood to flow back into the heart.
If left untreated, the problems can worsen over time and, in severe circumstances, lead to life-threatening complications like heart failure.
Because there are no medications that can treat aortic valve problems, replacing the valve will be recommended if you’re at risk of major complications but otherwise healthy enough for surgery.
After an aortic valve replacement, you’ll likely need to stay in the hospital for about a week, however, it could take up to three months to fully recover.
- When you first get home, you should take it easy, but over the next few weeks, you can gradually resume your regular activities.
- You’ll be told about any potential side effects and activities to avoid while you’re recovering.
- You won’t be able to drive for around six weeks, and depending on your job, you’ll probably need six to twelve weeks off.
The most effective treatment for aortic valve problems is an aortic valve replacement. If open-heart surgery is too hazardous, alternative treatments are done and the possible ones are-
- TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation) — instead of a big incision in the chest, the replacement valve is guided into place through blood arteries.
- balloon for aortic valve- A balloon is used to expand the valve.
- Sutureless aortic valve replacement — to save time on the heart-lung machine, the valve is not attached with stitches (sutures).
Some of the common causes of aortic valve diseases are-
- Senile aortic calcification
- Bicuspid aortic valve
- Underlying conditions like Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, rheumatic fever, lupus, giant cell arteritis and endocarditis
