Bleeding Following Mitral Valve Replacement

While bleeding following mitral valve replacement is common, severe bleeding after the surgery can be serious. If the bleeding following mitral valve replacement is severe, blood and blood products are often used. When a blood transfusion is used to treat bleeding following mitral valve replacement, there is a possibility of experiencing side effects such as allergic reaction, abnormal blood clotting, and kidney failure. Although blood and blood products are screened for various diseases, there is an extremely small chance that a person may contract an illness as the result of a transfusion.

Mitral Valve Replacement Risks

Bleeding Following Mitral Valve Replacement: An Overview

Bleeding during mitral valve replacement is normal. In fact, some bleeding following mitral valve replacement is to be expected; however, severe bleeding after the procedure is a serious problem.

There can be several causes of bleeding following mitral valve replacement, and the treatment will vary depending on the cause and your individual situation. It is possible that urgent surgery may be necessary to stop serious bleeding after the mitral valve replacement surgery or to repair a blood vessel that was damaged. In rare instances, it may be necessary to open your chest in the ICU or recovery room to attempt to control sudden and life-threatening bleeding. Fortunately, this occurs rarely.

Transfusions for Bleeding Following Mitral Valve Replacement

If bleeding is severe, blood and blood products are often used.

When this is the case, there is a small risk of a blood transfusion reaction. This may cause an allergic reaction, abnormal blood clotting, or kidney failure. Because the blood and blood products are actively screened for various diseases and problems -- including AIDS and hepatitis among others -- blood transfusions are generally safe.

However, there is an extremely small chance that you may contract an illness secondary to these transfusions. The estimated risk of:

Hepatitis C from blood transfusions is 1 in 100,000
Hepatitis B is 1 in 200,000
HIV is 1 in 600,000.

Depending on your individual situation, it may also be possible for you to donate your own blood. If so, you will usually donate blood about 3 to 4 weeks prior to the mitral valve replacement surgery.