AVR surgery is a procedure for Aortic
Valve Replacement, and is necessary whenever there has been any
narrowing of the aortic valve. The aortic valve is the control point
from where blood is forced from the heart with enough pressure to pump
around the body to feed the brain and the rest of the body with the
vital oxygen that it carries. The narrowing of an aortic valve can be
through build-ups of calcium, which leads to the heart straining more
to push the blood around the body. One further complication is that the
aortic valve will start to fail in its operation, and allow of reflux
of blood back into the heart.
The main symptoms of an aortic valve problem are a general shortness of
breath combined with dizziness. These are symptoms of the blood not
being delivered to the vital areas of the body, and lacking oxygen. In
order to cure the problem, AVR surgery is needed to replace the valve.
The replacement comes in either an artificial form, which is
mechanical, or a replacement from another human donor, or a cow or pig.
There are of course, factors to be considered when choosing between the
two options. The artificial valve will need to be complemented with a
course of blood thinning treatments that will last
for the durations of
one's lifetime. Animal or human valves will not, but they are
susceptible to wear over time. AVR surgery is similar to a coronary
artery bypass, as the heart is accessed through the breastbone and the
sac that surrounds the heart is sliced into. Naturally the heart will
need to be stopped during the procedure, so both that and the lungs get
to take a break while the patient is placed on machinery to sustain
them. This allows the surgeon to remove the malfunctioning valve and
for the new one to be sewn into place. This surgical procedure
generally lasts between three and five hours with a good week's
recovery at the end of it. That recovery period will only be the
initial drop in the ocean as the entire healing process can take up to
six months.
AVR surgery can save lives and as with any medical procedure it should
be talked over fully with your medical professional first and foremost.
Techniques are being improved all of the time, and that will lead to
more procedures being non-invasive, avoiding open heart surgery and the
inherent risks it brings with it. Aortic Valve Replacement has become a
common, modern day procedure across the world.
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