Stroke During Mitral Valve Replacement: An Overview
Strokes are a potential serious complication that may occur during
mitral valve replacement surgery. The latest studies show that temporary or permanent strokes during
mitral valve replacement occur in approximately 5 out of 100 procedures. Some of these strokes appear to be caused by a piece of
plaque (a piece of
calcium or a diseased part of the blood vessel or valve) that breaks off and travels through the arteries to the brain. When the piece of plaque blocks a small artery in the brain, it prevents blood and oxygen from reaching that area of the brain. The damage that results from the blockage is called a stroke.
Your body can be affected in a variety of ways by a stroke including paralysis, loss of speech, or even loss of life.
