Homograft Aortic Valve Replacement

Homograft, Allograft for Aortic Valve Replacement

Homograft valves are taken from another human donor. They are removed, treated with antibiotics, and frozen for preservation. There are many considerations in choosing the type of valve for replacement, and each patient will ultimately need to discuss the type of valve with a cardiac surgeon.

One main advantage of homograft valves is that anticoagulants are not needed. In addition, patients with recurrent endocarditis (infection of the heart valve) may benefit from a homograft valve due to decreased risk of infectiton. Finally, there are certain aspects of each persons anatomy that may indicate one valve choice over another. These considerations are highly detailed and must be carefully evaluated by a cardiac surgeon with extensive experience in valve replacement.

Homograft Valve for Aortic Valve Replacement

The aortic valve is located between the powerful left ventricle and the aorta, which connects the blood pumped from the heart to the rest of the body. (For more information, please see our overview on the aortic valve). The aortic valve is crucial in maintaining flow of blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Although the mitral valve can often be repaired, the aortic valve is usually replaced when there is disease because of the high pressure and volume through the aortic valve. To determine if there are options for aortic valve sparing techniques, please contact a cardiac surgeon at (949) 650-3350.

Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery

In aortic valve relpacement surgery, the patient is put to sleep with general anesthesia and an anesthesiologist monitors consciousness throughout the operation. Once the patient is asleep, the surgeon makes an incision down the middle of the chest and separate the breastbone. The patient is placed on the heart-lung machine to do the work of breathing and pumping oxygenated blood for the patient.

The surgeon will then access the heart and carefully remove the damaged valve. The diseased valve is discarded and the new homograft valve is inserted in its place. The surgeon will then use sutures to close the heart and sternum.

After surgery, the patient will be taken off the heart-lung machine and moved to the CVICU (Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit) where specialized staff will closely monitor the patient.

Risks of Surgery

Open-heart surgery is considered a major surgical operation and as such is associated with the following risks: stroke, heart attack, bleeding, infection, nerve damage, breathing problems, drug reactions, blood reactions, arrhythmias and death. Your surgeon willdiscuss these and other risks with you before your operation.

Other Information on Aortic Valve Replacement

Society of Thoracic Surgeons - Aortic Valve Disease Information
Heart Valve Replacement - St. Jude Medical
Aetna Women's Health - Heart Valve Disease Information