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How long does an aortic replacement valve last? “The longevity of your replacement valve will depend on the material. Mechanical valves are made of synthetic materials and will last longer.
- Overview
- What can affect life expectancy if you have valve regurgitation?
- Mitral valve regurgitation life expectancy
- Aortic valve regurgitation life expectancy
- Tricuspid valve regurgitation life expectancy
- Pulmonary valve regurgitation life expectancy
- Can a leaky heart valve be fixed without surgery?
- How do you know if a leaking heart valve is getting worse?
- The bottom line
A leaking heart valve can lead to life threatening complications. However, the condition is often treatable with valve repair or replacement procedures, which can increase your life expectancy.
For your heart to function properly, its four valves need to be able to open correctly and close tightly to ensure that blood flows in the right direction through your heart’s chambers.
A leaky heart valve, also known as valve regurgitation, means the blood can flow backward instead of moving forward. This raises the risk of blood clot formation and other complications such as arrhythmia and heart failure.
In mild cases, a leaking heart valve may have no symptoms and require no treatment other than regular checkups. But in more severe cases, valve repair or replacement may be necessary. When valve regurgitation symptoms are present, they can include:
•chest pain or discomfort
•heart palpitations
The outlook for someone with a leaking heart valve depends on which valve is affected and the severity of the regurgitation. The heart’s four valves include the:
•aortic valve
•mitral valve
•pulmonary valve
•tricuspid valve
Any valve can develop regurgitation or the opposite problem, stenosis — a condition in which the valve becomes stiff and can no longer open wide enough to allow sufficient blood to flow through it.
The mitral valve allows blood to flow from the left atrium down to the left ventricle, the heart’s main pumping chamber. A leaking mitral valve means the blood can flow back into the left atrium.
Without effective treatment, mitral valve disease can force the heart to work harder to pump blood out to the body, raising the risk of an irregular, rapid heartbeat, as well as heart failure.
A 2020 report suggests that the 1-year mortality rate for older adults who have severe mitral valve regurgitation but don’t undergo valve repair or replacement is about 14%. The percentage of individuals who don’t survive more than a year after their diagnosis increases substantially with age.
However, a 2020 study suggests that valve repair for severe mitral valve regurgitation may restore a person’s life expectancy to that of someone in the general public between the ages of 40 and 89.
The aortic valve allows blood to pass from the left ventricle into the aorta and the rest of the body. If blood seeps back into the left ventricle — the definition of aortic valve regurgitation — the heart must pump harder to push enough blood out to meet the body’s needs. This can lead to:
•heart failure
•arrhythmia
•death
Research suggests that about 75% of people with severe aortic valve regurgitation, also known as aortic insufficiency, live at least 5 years after diagnosis with conservative treatment, but only 50% live 10 years. However, life expectancy estimates drop to about 2 years if severe aortic valve regurgitation isn’t treated and leads to congestive heart failure.
According to a 2021 study, the average life expectancy for individuals ages 60 to 64 who undergo surgical aortic valve replacement is 16.2 years. For people 85 or older, the average life expectancy after valve replacement is 6.1 years.
The tricuspid valve separates the right atrium from the right ventricle, which pumps blood to the lungs to become oxygenated.
Tricuspid valve regurgitation means blood flows back up into the right atrium. The condition can cause significant pressure changes within the right ventricle. This can raise the risk of heart failure or the development of a common arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation.
The pulmonary valve allows blood to pass from the right ventricle to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen before returning to the heart to be pumped out to the body.
With pulmonary regurgitation, blood flows back to the right ventricle before becoming oxygenated. This is the least common type of valve regurgitation.
Common causes of pulmonary regurgitation include:
•congenital heart disease
•pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary regurgitation may lead to a heart murmur and, in rare cases, heart failure.
In some cases, a leaking heart valve can be repaired or replaced with a minimally invasive catheter procedure instead of open heart surgery. However, not everyone is a candidate for this type of procedure.
With a minimally invasive catheter procedure, a catheter (thin, flexible tube) is threaded through a blood vessel in your groin and up to your heart. The catheter will be equipped with tools that allow for either a repair or replacement of the affected heart valve.
In many cases, a leaky heart valve slowly gets worse over time. It’s important to keep track of your symptoms and to take note of any changes. Some symptoms that could indicate that a leaky heart valve may be getting worse include:
•increased shortness of breath, even when you’re not exerting yourself
•the inability to take a deep breath when lying down
•increased dizzy spells or feelings of lightheadedness
•more frequent bouts of chest pain or discomfort
•unusual swelling in legs, ankles, or feet
A leaking heart valve may be mild enough that it causes no symptoms and requires no treatment to restore healthy blood flow. In mild cases, a leaking heart valve may not have any impact on your life expectancy.
But in serious cases, a leaky heart valve often requires treatment such as a valve replacement or repair. Without a proper diagnosis and treatment, heart valve regurgitation can impact your life expectancy, especially if valve disease has led to other heart complications.
- James Roland
How long will it last? A mechanical valve will almost always last for life, but you must take an anticoagulant such as warfarin to stop blood clots forming around it. Tissue valves should eliminate or alleviate your symptoms for 10 to 15 years.
With tissue valves, you don’t need to take a blood-thinning medicine for life – although you may have to for some months after surgery. However, this type of valve won’t last as long as a mechanical valve and may need to be replaced or repaired after 10 to 20 years.
Nov 4, 2020 · NHS England has carefully reviewed the evidence to treat severe emphysema with LVR in adults. We have concluded that there is enough evidence to consider making treatments with both surgery and endobronchial duckbill valves available in centres with an experienced MDT.
How long will my valve last? Most patients with artificial valves do not ever have any problems and may never need any more surgery. So, it is possible that your new artificial valve could last for the rest of your life. But, in some cases, a valve has to be replaced within a matter of years, for any number of reasons.
People also ask
How long does a heart valve last?
What is the life expectancy if a aortic valve regurgitation is not treated?
Can emphysema be treated with a duckbill valve?
How long does a tissue valve last?
How long do artificial valves last?
Can a leaking heart valve affect your life expectancy?
Most people with mild heart valve disease have long lives. But it’s important to speak to your doctor if you have any new or worsening symptoms. Moderate or severe. If your valve disease is moderate or severe with no symptoms, you should have a check-up and echocardiogram every 6 to 12 months.
