Annuloplasty for Heart Valve Repair Procedure and Recovery
Annuloplasty for Heart Valve Repair: Procedure and Recovery Health ConditionsFeaturedBreast CancerIBD MigraineMultiple Sclerosis (MS)Rheumatoid ArthritisType 2 DiabetesSponsored TopicsArticlesAcid RefluxADHDAllergiesAlzheimer's & DementiaBipolar DisorderCancerCrohn's DiseaseChronic PainCold & FluCOPDDepressionFibromyalgiaHeart DiseaseHigh CholesterolHIVHypertensionIPFOsteoarthritisPsoriasisSkin Disorders and CareSTDsDiscoverWellness TopicsNutritionFitnessSkin CareSexual HealthWomen's HealthMental HealthSleepOriginal SeriesFresh Food FastDiagnosis DiariesYou’re Not AlonePresent TenseVideo SeriesYouth in FocusHealthy HarvestNo More SilenceFuture of HealthPlanHealth ChallengesMindful EatingSugar SavvyMove Your BodyGut HealthMood FoodsAlign Your SpineFind CarePrimary CareMental HealthOB-GYNDermatologistsNeurologistsCardiologistsOrthopedistsLifestyle QuizzesWeight ManagementAm I Depressed? A Quiz for TeensAre You a Workaholic?How Well Do You Sleep?Tools & ResourcesHealth NewsFind a DietFind Healthy SnacksDrugs A-ZHealth A-ZConnectFind Your Bezzy CommunityBreast CancerInflammatory Bowel DiseasePsoriatic ArthritisMigraineMultiple SclerosisPsoriasisFollow us on social mediaShopProducts by ConditionInsomniaStress ReliefBack PainNeck PainSleep ApneaHot SleepersAllergiesPain ReliefProduct ReviewsVitamins & SupplementsSleepMental HealthNutritionAt-Home TestingCBDMen’s HealthWomen’s HealthHealth ConditionsDiscoverPlanConnectShopSubscribe
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7048637/Heart valve diseases. (2022).
medlineplus.gov/heartvalvediseases.htmlMeyer M-AR, et al. (2007). Long-term outcome after mitral valve repair: A risk factor analysis.
academic.oup.com/ejcts/article/32/2/301/454557Padang R, et al. (2021). Thromboembolic complications of annuloplasty rings.
jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jcmg.2020.08.038Problem: Heart valve regurgitation. (2020).
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-valve-problems-and-disease/heart-valve-problems-and-causes/problem-heart-valve-regurgitationRogers J, et al. (2019). Transcatheter mitral valve direct annuloplasty with the millipede IRIS ring.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31078181/Testa, L, et al. (2016). Transcatheter mitral valve regurgitation treatment: State of the art and a glimpse to the future.
jtcvs.org/article/S0022-5223(16)30263-X/fulltextValvular heart disease. (2019).
cdc.gov/heartdisease/valvular_disease.htmOur experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Current Version Sep 23, 2022 By Kimberly Holland Edited By Rosalie Rung Medically Reviewed By Angela Ryan Lee, MD, FACC Copy Edited By Sara Giusti Share this articleMedically reviewed by Angela Ryan Lee, MD, FACC — By Kimberly Holland on September 23, 2022
What to Know About Annuloplasty
Medically reviewed by Angela Ryan Lee, MD, FACC — By Kimberly Holland on September 23, 2022Misshapen or damaged heart valves often need repair. That repair can be done with a procedure called annuloplasty. An annuloplasty can reshape or reinforce the ring (annulus) that surrounds a valve in the heart. The heart is made up of a series of valves, chambers, arteries, and veins that rhythmically pump and move blood through it and into the body. It’s a well-timed machine that keeps us active, alert, and alive. Sometimes, parts of the heart can become misshapen or stretched. The heart valves are particularly vulnerable to this. The valves are flaps that open and close to allow blood to flow into the heart but keep any blood from flowing backward. Here, we will look at why an annuloplasty may be needed, how the procedure is performed, and what the outlook is for people who have one.What is an annuloplasty
The heart’s four valves open and close to move blood through the heart’s chambers. When they’re open, blood comes in and the valves shut. With the next beat, blood is expelled as the heart pumps. This is done over and over, thousands of times each day. Sometimes, however, those valves can become stretched or misshapen. This can occur from disease or natural changes to the valves. If this happens, valves cannot effectively keep blood from flowing in the wrong direction or “leaking.” A leak may make the heart pump less effectively. This can lead to symptoms like weakness, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Without proper treatment, the risk of blood clots, heart failure, and cardiac arrest can increase. That’s when annuloplasty may be needed. During this procedure, a surgeon will implant an annuloplasty ring. This ring acts as support or reinforcement for the valve. The ring is made of either metal, plastic, or mesh. By implanting this ring, the valve will be able to close more effectively, and the risk of blood flowing backward decreases.Annuloplasty options
An annuloplasty is a surgical procedure. There are a few options for this surgery: Open heart: During open heart surgery, some doctors may also do other procedures, like an aneurysm repair, while also performing an annuloplasty.Minimally invasive: If a surgeon opts for the less invasive option, they can make smaller incisions and use lighted instruments inside the body to make the valve repairs.Transcatheter procedure: A doctor guides a thin, flexible tube (catheter) through the femoral artery (in the groin) to the affected valve to perform an annuloplasty. This procedure is still in clinical trials.Who is a good candidate for an annuloplasty
About 2.5% of the U.S. population has valvular heart disease. This is the name for the condition that causes changes to the heart’s valves. People with an enlarged heart may also need an annuloplasty. The stretching of the muscles may prevent the valve flaps from properly closing and opening. There are four types of annuloplasty:Mitral valve annuloplasty: repair of the mitral valveAortic valve annuloplasty: repair of the aortic valvePulmonary valve annuloplasty: repair of the pulmonary valveTricuspid valve annuloplasty: repair of the tricuspid valve, which has three flaps The type of valve repair you need will depend on which valve is misshapen or damaged. You may need more than one repair.What does this procedure involve
Before the procedure, your surgeon will likely ask you to fast starting the night before surgery. You may also need to stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, for several days before the surgery. This is because blood thinners increase bleeding risks. There are two ways to perform an annuloplasty: open heart or minimally invasive. These procedures are outlined below. You’ll be under general anesthesia no matter which procedure you have. This means you’ll be asleep during the surgery and won’t be aware of what’s happening. During an open heart annuloplasty, your surgeon will:make a large incision in the chest near the heartlocate the affected heart valve and place or sew the annuloplasty ring around the heart valveclose the incision using stitches or surgical glue During a minimally invasive surgery, your surgeon will:make several small incisions in the chest near the heartinsert small, flexible tubes with cameras or tools through the incisionsuse the tools and camera to place or sew the annuloplasty ring around the affected heart valveretract the tools and camera, and then close the incisions with surgical glue or stitches Over time, the heart muscle will grow around the ring, and it will act as any other part of the heart.What is recovery like
Immediately after the surgery, you will rest in a recovery area of the hospital or surgical suite. Nurses and other healthcare professionals will monitor your recovery. People who have a minimally invasive procedure may be able to return home in 3 to 5 days, as long as there are no complications. People who have open heart procedures will need to stay longer, often up to 7 days. If there are any complications with recovery, they will need to stay in the hospital for a longer time frame. Once you’re released from the hospital, you’ll have a set of instructions to follow. Your doctor will discuss these with you before and after your surgery. These instructions will include details on how long you need to limit physical activity and strenuous work, and when you can resume some daily activities. You will have follow-up appointments with your surgeon or doctor after your surgery. During these visits, they’ll look at the incisions to make sure they’re healing properly. They may also order an imaging exam, such as an echocardiogram, to see how well your new ring is working.How effective is it
Most people will only need one annuloplasty in their lifetime for an impaired valve. The procedure is very effective. In fact, annuloplasty is performed in almost all cases of mitral and tricuspid valve repair. One 2020 study found that the estimated survival rate 1 year after the surgery was as high as 94% for people who had tricuspid valve annuloplasty. According to a 2007 study, the 1-year survival rate after mitral valve repair was 96%. People with an annuloplasty ring will undergo lifelong follow-up exams with a cardiologist to monitor the ring’s placement and success. One 2021 study found that people who had the surgery could develop complications, including blood clots, years after the surgery.What are the risks
As with any surgery, annuloplasty can have risks. These are primarily related to recovery and the possibility of infection after the procedure. Risks of an annuloplasty include:ring malfunctionirregular heartbeatblood clotsbleedingstrokeinfection If you notice any redness or swelling around the incision sites, seek medical attention. You may have an infection and need antibiotics before it worsens. Likewise, if you have symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, or weakness, seek emergency medical attention. These could be symptoms of a blood clot.The bottom line
Annuloplasty is a common procedure that’s used to repair faulty or damaged heart valves. Without the procedure, a heart valve may not seal properly and blood can leak backward. Over time, this can cause symptoms like shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, and swollen feet or ankles. Blood clots are possible and can be fatal. Annuloplasty is usually a very successful procedure. People who have the surgery rarely need additional repair on the affected valve. Last medically reviewed on September 23, 2022How we vetted this article
SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Brescia AA, et al. (2019). Outcomes of guideline-directed concomitant annuloplasty for functional tricuspid regurgitation.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7048637/Heart valve diseases. (2022).
medlineplus.gov/heartvalvediseases.htmlMeyer M-AR, et al. (2007). Long-term outcome after mitral valve repair: A risk factor analysis.
academic.oup.com/ejcts/article/32/2/301/454557Padang R, et al. (2021). Thromboembolic complications of annuloplasty rings.
jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jcmg.2020.08.038Problem: Heart valve regurgitation. (2020).
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-valve-problems-and-disease/heart-valve-problems-and-causes/problem-heart-valve-regurgitationRogers J, et al. (2019). Transcatheter mitral valve direct annuloplasty with the millipede IRIS ring.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31078181/Testa, L, et al. (2016). Transcatheter mitral valve regurgitation treatment: State of the art and a glimpse to the future.
jtcvs.org/article/S0022-5223(16)30263-X/fulltextValvular heart disease. (2019).
cdc.gov/heartdisease/valvular_disease.htmOur experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Current Version Sep 23, 2022 By Kimberly Holland Edited By Rosalie Rung Medically Reviewed By Angela Ryan Lee, MD, FACC Copy Edited By Sara Giusti Share this articleMedically reviewed by Angela Ryan Lee, MD, FACC — By Kimberly Holland on September 23, 2022