Heart Valve Replacement Surgery – How Successful Is It?

By Adam Pick on March 10, 2008

I just received a great question via email. In fact, this particular question brought back memories to when I was first diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and told that I needed heart valve replacement surgery.

The question reads, “Adam – Do you have any statistics about the success or failure rates of heart valve replacement surgery?” Interestingly enough, I have collected some statistics about how successful heart valve replacement surgery is.

 

How Successful Is Valve Replacement

 

However, before you evaluate this information, you have to understand that there are several variables that determine the success or failure of heart valve surgery.

  • For example, consider all the variables of the patient – age, overall health, heart condition, etc.
  • Furthermore, you need to consider the variables of the health care facility and surgeon selection. As I have written about before, there is a dichotomy between the leading heart care centers and the regional / local cardiac care centers.

That said, my research suggests that the short-term success rate of heart valve replacement surgery is relatively high. Thanks to the advances of medical technology and surgeon skill, some heart care facilities suggest that 94% – 97% of heart valve replacement operations will be successful. To learn more about heart valve replacement surgery, click here.

In particular, The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center posts a mortality rate from heart valve surgery of only 2.4%.

In review of the low mortality rate, one should know that heart valve surgery complications are perceived to be relatively common among patients. As my research suggests, up to 60% of patients perceive that their recovery is impacted by one or more forms of complications following heart valve surgery.

I hope that helps answer the question about the success rate of heart valve replacement surgery.

Keep on tickin!
Adam


Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick, Heart Valve Patient Advocate

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.


Sheena says on April 30th, 2012 at 6:05 pm

I sent a comment a short while ago. Please keep my name anomynous.

First, thank you for having a place to comment about heart valve replacement surgery.

My mother had heart replacement valve surgery when she was 91 years old at Resurrection Healthcare in Park Ridge, IL.

At first it was a success, then after several months it began leaking, and now at eight months it is leaking. Looking at the above statement about a 97% success rate for heart valve replacement surgery I am questioning my mother\’s surgery and trying to figure out the root cause of the failure. Was the valve (bovine) bad, was there an error performed in the surgery?

I am praying for an answer. The doctor wants to preform the surgery again and now my mother is 92 years old. I pray that whatever has caused the valve to fail to be discovered so we can get her well.



DON STEPHENS says on February 13th, 2014 at 6:13 pm

I am 81 years old male and have had the aortic valve replaced on OCT. 31, 2012.NOW IN JANUARY ,2014. I have been diagniosed with a leaking valve and high internal pressure inside my heart. my doctor suggests another replacement using the .. TARV Procedure Was the (bovine) bad, or was there an error in surgery? Basically I feel about the same as before the first surgery .Can you elaborate ? Thanks ,what would you recommend ?


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