How long does it take to recover from heart valve surgery?

[aaronbert1]

How long does it take to recover from heart valve surgery?

[Gyrodon]

Your recovery depends on many factors. Please visit the Cardiac Athletes site. A lot of very knowledgeable people there who are very willing to help.

http://www.cardiacathletes.org.uk/forums/

All the best,
Rich

[Bob S.]

How long does it take to recover from heart valve surgery?

It is probably very age dependent. I had mine at almost 79. I wasn't up to driving a car for the first 4 weeks (actually I was warned not to by the cardiologist on account of the hazard of banging my healing sternum on the steering wheel post) and it was another couple of weeks before I started long walks. After about 2 months I was erging again and entered a competition just 18 months after the surgery. After 8 1/2 years, I still find the wires in my sternum to be a nuisance and I should probably have them removed, but I keep putting that off. I have heard that the surgery can now be done without having to saw through the sternum to pry the chest open. I don't know how that is done, but I hope that it is a well-established technique if and when my current porcine tissue aortic valve needs replacement.

Bob S.

[aaronbert1]

Thanks for your Response.. Its very usefull

[RBFC]

Recovery is dependent upon several factors, as mentioned. Your baseline health and conditioning are an important factor. The nature of your valvular dysfunction is another. Valve problems lead to other health problems, such as liver and kidney issues. The length of time that your valve has been malfunctioning is another factor. The heart muscle changes over time in an attempt to accommodate the failing valve's changes to the pressures in the heart. For instance, a stenotic (tight/restricted) aortic valve will cause the heart muscle to thicken, since it is forced to squeeze against a higher resistance than normal. The return to normal hemodynamics (heart function) can be partial or complete, depending upon the length of time and severity of the dysfunction.

These are some of the factors that may affect the actual cardiac healing and return to activity. The healing of the incision, your sternum, etc. will also play a part in how fast you feel that you want to exercise.

Aortic valve replacement without sternotomy is not yet a mature technology. Experiments are being conducted using catheter-introduced valves, which pop open like an umbrella opening once they are in place. For now, the gold standard is still a direct-vision operation using sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass. If you're going to have your valve replaced, you want them to get it absolutely correct the first time.

Disclosure: I have operated the heart/lung machine for open heart surgery for 32 years. This is my opinion based on my experiences.

Lee

[Bob S.]

Disclosure: I have operated the heart/lung machine for open heart surgery for 32 years. This is my opinion based on my experiences.

Lee

Hi Lee,

On a couple of heart surgery survivor forums, I have seen some gallows humor about "pumpheads." My wife tells me that she definitely observed that in me, especially in the first month after the surgery. It has been 8 1/2 years for me now and she thinks that it is long past, but I like to use "pumphead moment" as an excuse when I goof up on something. How common is this problem? Can it be permanent? In a normal case (whatever that is), how long does it take to clear up substantially?

Bob S.

[RBFC]

Disclosure: I have operated the heart/lung machine for open heart surgery for 32 years. This is my opinion based on my experiences.

Lee

Hi Lee,

On a couple of heart surgery survivor forums, I have seen some gallows humor about "pumpheads." My wife tells me that she definitely observed that in me, especially in the first month after the surgery. It has been 8 1/2 years for me now and she thinks that it is long past, but I like to use "pumphead moment" as an excuse when I goof up on something. How common is this problem? Can it be permanent? In a normal case (whatever that is), how long does it take to clear up substantially?

Bob S.

Bob,

The issue of "pumphead" is multi-factorial. I wager that since you had your last surgery, there have been advancements in technology that have lessened the incidence and severity of "pumphead". Thought to be a product of inflammatory response, brought on by the contact of your blood with the foreign surfaces in the heart/lung machine, pumphead is usually a transient phenomenon that abates when the inflammation subsides. New "bio-compatible" coatings are now in use on the components of the h/l machine. These coatings greatly reduce the immune/complement response to the foreign surfaces, and less neurological effects are one benefit. There have also been advancements in surgical technique that reduce the amount/size of emboli (particles or bubbles introduced into the cerebral circulation, in this case) generated by the surgical procedure itself.

Now, I can't guarantee that you will feel NO effects, but many have no issues. I understand your concern, but just know that things have gotten better continually since your last surgery. I wish you good luck and a speedy recovery. At any rate, you probably will still row faster than me!

Lee