Does heart valve replacement require open-chest surgery?

For the surgery to replace the heart valve, it is definitely necessary to open the chest, but the patient himself needs to adjust his mood. Only in this way can the difficulty of the surgery be reduced. Usually, it will heal in about seven or eight days after the surgery, so there is no need to worry too much, but you must remember to pay attention to your physical care after the surgery.

The incision after heart valve replacement surgery usually heals in 7 to 8 days after the operation. You can take a shower 10 days after the operation. Avoid getting cold and rubbing the wound. Clean the wound with disinfectant after bathing. If you find exudation, redness or swelling in the incision, you need to go to the hospital for treatment. It takes about three months for the sternum to heal. Pay attention to correct posture to avoid the occurrence of "pigeon chest". The sternum fixation wire does not need to be removed, but MRI examination cannot be performed. If there is discomfort or psychological factors, the fixation wire can be removed under local anesthesia one year after the operation. Please follow your doctor's advice for specific circumstances.

The following are some precautions for patients undergoing heart valve replacement surgery:

1. After discharge from hospital, you should pay attention to the following issues:

(1) Maintain a regular life: Congenital heart disease patients are relatively weak after being discharged from the hospital. They should pay attention to rest, avoid watching TV, playing and working too much, and ensure adequate sleep. They should maintain appropriate temperature and humidity. Family members and outsiders should not smoke in the patient's bedroom. To keep the air fresh, you can open the window for half an hour every morning for ventilation. When opening the window, you should pay attention to keeping warm and the time should not be too long.

(2) If you are unable to take a bath, you can scrub your skin with warm water to keep it clean. Within 3 months after discharge from hospital, you should avoid going to public places to prevent infection. For more seriously ill patients, it is best for the family to prepare oxygen bags and bottles for use when necessary.

(2) Pay attention to dietary hygiene: After being discharged from the hospital, patients should pay attention to nutritional supplementation. Generally, there are no special taboos, but they should eat nutritious and easily digestible foods, such as lean meat, fish, eggs, fruits and seasonal vegetables. In general, patients do not need to limit their salt intake. However, patients with complex malformations, low heart function, and persistent congestive heart failure after surgery should strictly control their salt intake, which should be controlled at 4 to 8 grams per day for adults and 2 to 4 grams per day for children. They should also be given easily digestible soft food, such as wonton, noodles, porridge, etc.

Patients should eat small meals frequently, and should not eat too much or binge eat, so as not to increase the burden on the heart. The food should be fresh and hygienic to prevent diarrhea from worsening the condition. Children should control their snacks and drinks, and avoid eating unclean, expired snacks or snacks that contain a lot of pigments and additives.