by DrCiuffo | Dec 30, 2022 | Advanced Heart Surgery, Aortic Valve Replacement, Blog, Dr. Giovanni B Ciuffo, Heart Health
A normal functioning aortic valve has three leaflets, usually referred to as cusps, and is positioned at the end of the left ventricle. This valve is the main pump that delivers oxygenated blood to the entire body. An aortic valve replacement is required if someone suffers from Aortic Valve Stenosis or Aortic Valve Insufficiency. These two issues can cause a significant number of problems and can be life-threatening. Understanding the components that are involved in an aortic valve replacement is essential, especially if you are considering one. Dr. Ciuffo takes the time to consider your specific situation before moving forward on a treatment plan. If you are looking for this information to guide you through decisions regarding your healthy heart, this is a great place to start. Today we take a deep dive into aortic valve replacement, so you can have the knowledge you need. When to Consider Aortic Valve Replacement As already mentioned, there are two reasons why someone would need an aortic valve replacement. When suffering from aortic stenosis, the valve is narrow, causing it to be more challenging for the blood to go through. Basically, the muscle in the heart begins to thicken, causing a hissing sound, which is oftentimes confused with a murmur. With aortic valve insufficiency, the valve tends to “leak” when it is closed. This makes the heart work twice as hard to make the blood flow correctly and in the right direction. To repair this, doctors have created a minimally invasive technique that is much safer and easier on patients. What to Consider for an Aortic Valve Replacement Since the breastbone is... by DrCiuffo | Jun 21, 2018 | Blog, Dr. Giovanni B Ciuffo, Heart Health
Leaking Heart Valves Patients living with leaking heart valves have more options than ever. A bio heart valve or mechanical heart valve may be the best option to repair a damaged heart. A leaking heart valve not only puts additional strain on the hardest-working muscle in your body, it can lead to aneurism or separation and further damage to your heart. Mechanical Heart Valve One option patients may be offered is heart valve replacement. A mechanical heart valve has several advantages. Primarily, there is little to no risk of the valve itself being rejected by the body. A mechanical valve may not wear out as quickly as a bovine (harvested from a cow) or porcine (harvested from a pig) heart valve. Patients may, however, require blood thinners when living with a mechanical heart valve. How Long Do Pig Valves Last in Humans? The answer varies. The valves last an average of seven to ten years in patients over 65. Conditions affecting the metabolism of calcium in the body, especially in children and young adults, increase the chances and the speed of failure of a bio heart valve. Bio Heart Valve A bio heart valve, which is harvested from either a cow or pig heart may be implanted either using a structure called a stent, or may be “stentless.” The likelihood of a bio heart valve failing depends on the individual patient’s condition and a number of other factors. Your doctor can help you decide which type of valve is right for you when considering bicuspid aortic valve replacement options. Biological Heart Valve Pros and Cons The primary advantage of... by DrCiuffo | Nov 17, 2016 | Uncategorized, Blog
Healthy hearts have a wall that separates the right and left sides. An atrial septal defect occurs when there is a hole in this wall. This hole can cause problems with blood flow through the heart and body. ASD is not that common: only 0.6% of all babies are born with a hole in their heart wall. However, the consequences of this defect can be deadly. Symptoms ASD can cause newborns to have trouble breathing. This, in turn, leads to other issues like malnourishment, irreversible lung circulation damage, other complications and eventually death. It is very important to recognize this pathology and treat it before it is too late. Treatments There are several different ways to treat ASD. Surgical Therapy. When the atrial septal defect is small, it can sometimes close on its own. However, if the hole is large, it can cause severe symptoms. Minimally invasive atrial septal defect repairs can be performed to restore the normal anatomy for good. The surgery involves a tiny 2″ incision on the chest wall. Dr. Ciuffo will close the ASD with a suture line or a patch of the patient’s own tissue. Minimally invasive patients can benefit from having a very small scar, significantly less pain, and a quick recovery compared to other methods. Medical Therapy. For newborns with a small atrial septal defect with no symptoms, a pediatric cardiologist will most likely observe the patient and wait for the atrial septal defect to close on its own. If this does occur, the baby will have regular physical examinations and echocardiograms. Catheter Therapy. In some cases, the ASD can be closed with a catheter.... by DrCiuffo | Oct 14, 2016 | Blog
Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a heart condition that causes you to have an irregular or fast heart rate. This increased heart rate can then lead to other complications like stroke or heart failure. Symptoms of AFib can be shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and weakness. AFib typically is not a life-threatening condition, but it can decrease your quality of life if left untreated. One way to treat this condition is to get a mechanical heart valve replacement surgery. Mechanical Heart Valve A mechanical valve is an artificial tool that includes a steel alloy ring with an outer cloth suture ring and two half-moon shaped leaflets hinged inside it. The valve replaces a damaged or malfunctioning mitral valve in your heart. This type of valve is very hard, does not wear out, and guarantees a virtually unlimited duration of the valve in ideal conditions. Mechanical Heart Valve Replacement and Atrial Fibrillation You may be suffering from atrial fibrillation if you have another heart problem that requires a surgery like mitral valve surgery, aortic valve surgery, or coronary artery bypass grafting. If the surgery that you require to treat another heart issue is mechanical heart valve replacement surgery, it is likely that your atrial fibrillation will also be treated during the surgery. Disadvantages of Surgery The main disadvantage of mechanical heart valve replacement surgery is that patients who received a mechanical valve have to take blood thinners for the rest of their lives to prevent the formation of dangerous blood clots. This is a necessary and important therapy because normal blood tends to form clots when it is in contact with...
