Key result
Artificial heart valve replacement carries an ongoing risk of complications, with nearly half of surviving patients dying or experiencing serious complications by ten years post-operation.
Why the study?
What are the long-term complications and risks associated with artificial heart valves?
What are the long-term complications and risks associated with artificial heart valves?
Valve replacement is a palliative procedure with nearly half of patients experiencing death or serious complications, such as infectious endocarditis, within ten years.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Supports lifelong surveillance post-valve replacement; leaves open need for improved durability and selection criteria.
DESPITE continuing advances in cardiac valve surgery, it remains clear that valve replacement with any prosthesis is a palliative and not a curative procedure.¹Every patient with an artificial heart valve is subject to an ongoing risk of a variety of complications that vary with different prostheses but that are common to most. Follow-up studies report that nearly half of all patients surviving valve replacement are dead or have experienced serious complications by ten years after operation.²Meticulous medical management and a clear understanding of the more common problems with artificial valves are crucial in avoiding complications or in recognizing them early for prompt and appropriate care. Infectious Endocarditis Prosthetic-valve endocarditis is a continuing and life-threatening risk in patients with artificial heart valves. A valve prosthesis increases the patient's vulnerability to endocarditis and makes eradication of the infection difficult. Prosthetic endocarditis occurring early after operation (within 60 days)
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Frank E. Kloster (1979) conducted a review in Artificial heart valves. Artificial heart valves was evaluated on Death or serious complications. Artificial heart valve replacement carries an ongoing risk of complications, with nearly half of surviving patients dying or experiencing serious complications by ten years post-operation.
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