Heart Valve Prosthesis and Reconstruction
A heart valve is an important part of the heart that affects many processes in the body. Therefore, when it starts to malfunction, the entire body feels it.
The following methods are used to eliminate valve pathologies:
- Reconstruction is attempted in most cases, as it is a less invasive procedure and involves repairing the damaged valve.
- Prosthesis is used in cases where reconstruction would be ineffective. It involves the implantation of an artificial valve.
Heart Valve Prosthesis - in Spain
Heart valve replacement surgeries in Spain are in high demand. Recently, minimally invasive catheter-based surgical methods have been frequently used, which significantly reduce the post-operative period, the risk of surgery, and also have a better cosmetic effect.Such operations have only been performed since 2002. Over the past 10 years, more than 50,000 patients worldwide have been successfully operated on. Thanks to this method, it has been possible to treat patients who were previously considered inoperable.
Heart valve operations are divided into:
- Heart valve repair
- Complete replacement of valves with special prostheses.
- Stenosis (narrowing) of the valve orifice due to rheumatism, atherosclerosis, or congenital pathologies
- Valve insufficiency – inability of the valve leaflets to close completely due to changes in the properties of the leaflets themselves, rupture of the chordae tendineae (threads) holding the leaflets, or expansion of the valve base (annulus).
- Valve infection (infective endocarditis)
- Need for staged correction in complex congenital heart defects
Aortic Valve Replacement
In Spain, such operations are often performed using a minimally invasive approach, with the "keyhole method." In this case, the patient is under general anesthesia, and access to the heart is gained through a small incision (4 centimeters);
Such operations are primarily performed on high-risk patients – those of advanced age, with severe pulmonary insufficiency, or co-existing conditions.
The average length of hospitalization after heart valve surgery is 3-4 weeks.
The highest level of cardiac surgery development for heart valve prosthetics and reconstruction in Spain allows for high-tech, safe, and effective operations at any age and with any severity of the patient's condition, which guarantees the restoration of health and quality of life for patients with valvular heart disease.
