Aortic Valve Replacement Complications: An Introduction
No procedure is ever completely free of risks; however,
aortic valve replacement has been performed for many years with successful results and limited complications.
This article addresses the possible minor and major complications of aortic valve replacement. Minor complications are in most cases temporary and are often easily treated by your healthcare providers.
Minor Aortic Valve Replacement Complications
Minor aortic valve replacement complications include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Infections at the site of the IVs, wires, or tubes
- Minor bleeding or bruising
- Abnormal or painful scar formation
- Allergic skin reaction
- Skin numbness
- Atrial fibrillation.
Major Aortic Valve Replacement Complications
There are also a number of possible major aortic valve replacement complications that can occur with aortic valve replacement. Although these are uncommon, your overall health will play a role in your likelihood of developing complications and how well you recover from them. For example, patients with severe
heart disease,
diabetes, or lung or kidney disease may be at greater risk for complications associated with aortic valve replacement than those who are healthier.
The most common and/or serious complications of aortic valve replacement include:
Other possible major complications of aortic valve replacement include (but are not limited to):
- Heart or lung problems, including:
o Irregular heart rhythms
o Temporary or permanent damage to your heart's electrical system
o Pneumonia
o Rupture of the heart wall.
- Kidney failure
- Allergic reaction to medication
- Nerve or organ damage
- Transmission of disease from blood products
- Other rare and unlikely events.
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print