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SURVEILLANCE OF THE VALVULAR PROSTHESES

- Mechanical / Biological prothesis
- The prevention of the infective endocarditis
- After surgery
- Complications

COMPLICATIONS

1 - Formation of a clot in the mechanical valves

This situation is more frequent when the prosthesis is in a mitral position. Very often, this complication is due to an insufficient anticoagulation.

This complication occurs by arterial embolisms, in particular in the brain arteries. A loss of consciousness, a pulmonary acute oedema or a cardiac insufficiency can be also revealing of this complication.

2 - Removal of the prosthesis

This complication occurs more often when the prosthesis is in an aortic position and when the suture is not good quality.

This complication occurs by an insufficiency murmur of the valve and is often associated to a cardiac decompensation.

3 - Destruction of red blood cells on contact with the prosthesis

Sometimes, the valvular prosthesis is responsible for the destruction of red blood cells exploding when on contact with the prosthesis. This mechanism is responsible for the formation of an anaemia that can cause many symptoms: loss of consciousness, fatigue...

This complication is more frequent when the prosthesis is in a mitral position.

4 - Infective endocarditis

A microbe can come and settle down onto the valvular prosthesis, thus causing an endocarditis on the prosthesis.

This complication is serious because its treatment is often long, its result is uncertain, and it sometimes obliges the physician to entrust his patient with the cardiac surgeon who will replace the prosthesis, often under bad conditions.

5 - Wear: More and more rare

6 - Haemorrhagic accidents

The risk of a fatal accident is of 0.5%/year/patient.

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File last reviewed on dec 18, 2011