What Is Pulmonary Valve Replacement?

Pulmonary valve replacement is a type of surgical procedure that is performed when the valve connecting the pulmonary artery to the right ventricle of the heart is not able to function properly. This is a major surgical procedure that requires several days of monitoring in a hospital setting to make sure no serious complications arise. The replacement valve can be completely synthetic or may include tissue from cows, pigs, or human donors. The heart must be stopped temporarily during the surgery, so an external heart-lung machine will be used to keep clean blood circulating through the body. Any questions or concerns about the pulmonary valve replacement procedure should be discussed with the surgeon prior to the operation.

When the patient arrives at the hospital for the pulmonary valve replacement surgery, a thin tube known as a catheter will be inserted into a vein so that all necessary medications and fluids can be introduced directly into the body. A mild sedative may be given to encourage relaxation before the patient is moved into the operating room. General anesthesia is administered so that the patient is completely sedated for the duration of the surgery.

After the anesthesia has taken effect, a catheter is inserted into the bladder to collect urine while the patient is sedated. A nasogastric tube is placed into the stomach through the nostrils to suction stomach contents during the procedure. A heart-lung machine is used to oxygenate the blood and keep it flowing throughout the body while the heart is stopped. An entire medical team is present to make sure all of the equipment functions properly during the pulmonary valve replacement surgery.

Once the heart has been stopped, the surgeon will surgically remove the damaged pulmonary valve and replace it with a synthetic alternative. In some cases, the new valve may contain biological materials collected from pigs, cows, or human organ donors. The heart is then restarted and the patient is disconnected from the heart-lung machine.

Shortly after the pulmonary valve replacement surgery has been completed, the patient is moved into an intensive care unit for a few days to be closely monitored for any signs of complications before being moved into a regular room for several more days. Complete recovery may take several months, and the supervising physician will provide detailed instructions concerning activity limitations and post-surgical care. Medications designed to thin the blood will need to be taken for the remainder of life, and the valve may need to be replaced every few years.