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Crit Care Nurse 2003 Apr; 23(2): 72-90
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Cardiovascular Surgery

Advances in Cardiac Surgery: Valve Repair

Debra Lynn-McHale Wiegand, RN, MSN, CS, CCRN

Debra Lynn-McHale Wiegand is a staff nurse in the surgical cardiac care unit at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and a predoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Penn.

To purchase reprints, contact The InnoVision Group, 101 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656. Phone, (800) 809-2273 or (949) 362-2050 (ext 532); fax, (949) 362-2049; e-mail, reprints{at}aacn.org.

Valvular heart disease is the fifth most common cardiovascular disorder; the first four are hypertension, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and stroke.1 Valvular heart disease may develop acutely, but more commonly it is a chronic process, evolving over many years. Severe valvular heart disease eventually leads to heart failure and dysrhythmias unless the course of the disease is interrupted.2 Valvular heart disease affects persons of all ages who have valvular dysfunction due to congenital or acquired causes. Most valve repairs for congenital valvular disorders are performed immediately after birth or during childhood. Common causes of acquired valvular heart disease include degenerative heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, and infective endocarditis. Less common causes include trauma, lupus erythematosus, tumors, syphilis, cancer, and arthritic disease.

Significant advances have been made in the past several decades in the early assessment and management of valvular heart disease. Innovations in diagnostic tools, pharmacological developments, and improved invasive and surgical techniques have contributed to these advances. Cardiac catheterization, color flow Doppler imaging, trans-esophageal echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging have revolutionized the diagnostic approach.3 Pharmacological agents such as diuretics, nitrates, digitalis, anticoagulants, calcium channel blockers, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, antidysrhythmics, and antibiotics have improved the medical management of valvular heart disease. Balloon valvuloplasty provides patients with mitral stenosis and aortic stenosis an invasive yet non-surgical option for treatment of valve disease. Balloon valvuloplasty has been used successfully to treat mitral stenosis in patients without heavily calcified valves and has been used as a temporizing procedure in patients for whom surgery is a risk.3,4

Great strides have been made in the surgical treatment of heart valve disease. In the 1950s, surgery was used to repair damaged heart valves. In the early 1960s, the first valve replacement surgery with a prosthetic valve was performed.5 Valve replacement became the preferred surgical technique, because prosthetic valves were easy to insert and reliable.6 Complications associated with valve replacement include wear of the prosthetic valve, thromboembolism, hemorrhage due to use of anticoagulants, and prosthetic valve endocarditis. According to Frankel and Brest,3 after valve replacement surgery, the disease process that involved the native valve is replaced by another disease process, one that involves the prosthetic valve. Therefore, surgeons turned with renewed interest to repair and reconstruction of cardiac valves. Valve repair eliminates or at least minimizes many of the problems associated with valve replacement.

The focus of this article is repair of cardiac valves for adults with acquired valvular disorders. The prevalence of cardiac valve disease and valve dysfunction is reviewed, and the most common techniques for repair of the mitral and aortic valves are described. Outcomes after valve repair are discussed, and specific priorities in patients’ care are emphasized.

Prevalence of Cardiac Valve Disease

Although less information is available on the epidemiology of valvular heart disease than on that of atherosclerotic disease, both diseases are common and are associated with appreciable morbidity and mortality.7 A steady decrease has occurred in the incidence of rheumatic heart disease, the most common single cause of valvular heart disease.8 However, rheumatic fever continues to be prevalent, especially in developing countries, in the tropical areas of the world, and in isolated pockets of developed countries.9 In the late 19th century, reports of acute rheumatic fever worldwide were numerous. In the United States, hospitals in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston reported thousands of cases of rheumatic fever; however, in the early 1900s, incidence reports in the United States were sparse and were not duplicated to note trends.10 The best records are available from Denmark, where the annual incidence of the disease, which was 200 per 100000 in 1862, had decreased to 50 per 100000 by 1940 and to 11 per 100000 by 1962.8 Likewise, a steady decrease has occurred in the incidence of rheumatic heart disease in the United States. In 1950, approximately 15000 persons in the United States died of rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease.1 From 1987 to 1997 the death rate for rheumatic heart disease decreased by 33.2%.1 Although the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease is decreasing, it is estimated that currently 1.8 million persons in the United States have the disease and that approximately 35000 patients are hospitalized annually because of rheumatic heart disease.1

Although the overall incidence of rheumatic heart disease is declining, no significant changes have occurred in the prevalence of valvular heart disease.1,11 Two factors that influence this lack of change are the improvement in assessment of valvular disorders and the increased number of elderly persons. Advances in diagnostic tests have made diagnosis of valvular dysfunction more precise, leading to a greater number of recognized cases.12,13 The aging of the population, especially in developed countries, has increased the prevalence of degenerative valve disease.14

The Mitral and Aortic Valves

The Mitral Valve
The mitral valve lies between the left atrium and the left ventricle. The valve consists of 2 leaflets: a large anterior (aortic) leaflet and a small posterior (mural) leaflet. The leaflets join at 2 commissures (the lateral and medial) and are supported by a subvalvular mechanism. The subvalvular mechanism consists of the papillary muscles and the chordae tendineae (Figure 1Go). The mitral valve leaflets arise directly from the mitral annulus, with the anterior leaflet attaching to one third of the annulus and the posterior leaflet attaching to approximately two thirds of the annulus. The chordae tendineae originate from the fibrous tips of the papillary muscles and connect into the free edges and the undersurfaces of the mitral leaflets. Primary chordae are attached to the leaflet edges, and secondary chordae are attached to the undersurface of the leaflet. Additional tertiary chordae arise from the posterior left ventricular wall and attach to the undersurface of the posterior leaflet.16 The chordae divide and subdivide into more than 100 chordae that support the 2 mitral valve leaflets.17 The chordae tendineae and the papillary muscles prevent the prolapse of the leaflets into the left atrium during systole and contribute to the competency of the mitral valve.18



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  		Figure 1 Mitral valve with depiction of the valve cusps, chordae tendineae, and the papillary muscles.

 
The Aortic Valve
The aortic valve consists of 3 cusps or leaflets: the left cusp, the right cusp, and the noncoronary cusp (Figure 2Go). The aortic valve lies between the left ventricle and the ascending aorta. The aortic valve does not have a subvalvular mechanism. The aortic cusps open as blood is propelled into the aorta and close when the pressure in the aorta is greater than the pressure in the left ventricle.



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  		Figure 2 Inferior and superior views of the aortic valve.

 
Valve Dysfunction
Valvular disorders most often affect the valves on the left side of the heart, the mitral and aortic valves. The mitral and aortic valves are constantly exposed to high pressures and mechanical stress that can lead to cardiac valve damage. When a valve is open, blood flows from one chamber through the valve to the next. A pressure gradient does not exist between the 2 chambers or between the structures (chamber or vessel) above and below the valve. However, as valvular dysfunction develops and progresses, pressure gradients between the 2 structures develop.

Valvular dysfunction is a gradual process; the valve or valves affected become stenotic or insufficient. A stenotic valve does not open entirely, resulting in a decreased amount of forward blood flow. An insufficient or regurgitant valve does not close completely, so some blood flows backward instead of forward.

The 3 most common types of acquired valve disorders are degenerative disease, rheumatic disease, and infective endocarditis. Degenerative disease occurs as a gradual destruction of the valve due to constant wear and tear. The degeneration occurs slowly and is characterized by increased thickening, stiffening, and calcification of the leaflets.19 Valve calcification develops as a person ages. Calcification of the valve occurs as collagen fibers become thick and disoriented, the amount of mucopolysaccharides decreases, and progressive accumulation of fatty tissue occurs.20 The development of calcium infiltration reduces mobility of the valve leaflets, increases tension on the chordae, elevates the leaflets, and facilitates chordal elongation or rupture.20 Rheumatic disease begins with fusion of the valve leaflets at the commissures. Then the area of fusion enlarges, leading to fibrosis and constriction of the chordae tendineae and thickening and calcification of the leaflets.21 Infectious endocarditis directly damages valve tissue.

Cardiac Valve Surgery

Valvular heart disease is usually a chronic, progressive disease. Cardiac compensatory mechanisms often maintain a state of equilibrium for years before valvular function deteriorates to the point at which signs and symptoms are evident and more definitive therapy is needed.22 The natural history of valvular heart disease has been dramatically altered during the past 30 years by medical and surgical management.

Surgical methods for improving the function of diseased cardiac valves include valve reconstruction and valve replacement with mechanical prostheses, biological prostheses, or homograft valves.23 Although valve reconstruction can be performed to improve the function of insufficient or stenotic valves, most surgeries are performed because of valve insufficiency.

Replacement of the mitral valve is indicated for patients with severe valve calcification, marked subvalvular stenosis, or mitral stenosis accompanied by marked mitral regurgitation.24 Replacement of the native aortic valve with a prosthetic valve is used for patients with severely damaged valves. Valve replacement also is used when valve repair is unsuccessful.

The type of valve surgery is usually established at the time of the operation. Preoperative prediction of the operation that can be performed is based on the location and type of valvular disease and the skill and experience of the surgeon.25

Timing of Cardiac Valve Surgery
Patients with cardiac valve disease are monitored closely by a cardiologist to determine the best time for valve surgery. Data obtained with transesophageal echocardiography are used to decide the best time for cardiac surgery and the type of repair needed.25 The data aide in determining the location and severity of leaflet prolapse; leaflet mobility and restriction; the point of leaflet coaptation; presence and severity of annular calcification; chordal fusion; and site, direction, and size of regurgitant blood flow.26 Cardiac valve surgery is commonly performed as soon as signs and symptoms of valvular dysfunction begin to occur. Ideally, surgery is performed before the development of left ventricular dysfunction or atrial enlargement that may lead to atrial dysrhythmias.

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Valve Surgery
Traditionally, cardiac valve surgery involved a median sternotomy incision, cardiopulmonary bypass, and cannulation of the right atrium and the aorta. Recently, valve surgery has been performed by using minimally invasive approaches.

Minimally invasive surgery is performed by using instruments designed to provide intracardiac retraction and to allow the surgeon to work through small thoracotomy incisions or ports.27 Percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass, an intra-aortic balloon catheter for aortic occlusion, and instillation of a cardioplegic solution are used.28 Video-assisted techniques may be used.29–32 The early results of minimally invasive cardiac repair surgeries have been promising.27,30,33–35

Valve Repair and Reconstructive Techniques

The term valvuloplasty is used to describe both valve repair and valve reconstruction. Although valve repair and reconstruction can be used to treat aortic valve disease, they are more commonly used to treat mitral valve dysfunctions. The mitral valve is more complex than the aortic valve both anatomically and functionally.36

Mitral Valve Repair
Open Mitral Commissurotomy
Open mitral commissurotomy is used when the mitral valve is stenotic because of fused commissures. The fused commissures are incised from the annulus to the center of the mitral valve (Figure 3Go). The goals of open mitral commissurotomy are to improve leaflet mobility and to increase the size of the valve orifice. The procedure is most effective when the valve leaflets are thin and pliable. The length of the commissurotomy must be precise. If the incision extends too far toward the annulus, an annuloplasty may become necessary.18



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  		Figure 3 Open mitral commissurotomy for fused mitral valve commissures.

 
Open mitral commissurotomy is used early in the disease process. Indications for use of open mitral commissurotomy rather than mitral valve replacement include a loud opening snap on auscultation, good leaflet mobility on ventriculograms and echocardiograms, and no evidence of valvular calcification on radiographs.21 Surgery is recommended for patients when cardiac catheterization reveals that the mitral valve area is less than 1.5 cm2.21

Reshaping the Mitral Valve Annulus
Surgery for mitral insufficiency is recommended on the basis of the patient’s signs and symptoms and the results of cardiac catheterization and echocardiography. An annuloplasty involves reconstruction of an insufficient mitral valve and is used to repair a deformed or dilated mitral valve annulus. The valve annulus is composed of a fibromuscular ring.

Two surgical techniques may be used if the mitral valve annulus is enlarged. Figure 4Go depicts the first technique, in which the valve annulus is sutured to reduce the size of the enlarged annulus. The sutures are placed at both commissures, incorporating only the posterior annulus.18 In the second technique, a prosthetic annuloplasty ring is inserted (Figure 5Go). The annuloplasty ring is sewn to the mitral valve annulus to reshape the annulus.



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  		Figure 4 Reshaping the mitral valve with valve annulus sutures.

 


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  		Figure 5 Annuloplasty ring used to reshape a dilated mitral valve annulus.

 
Annuloplasty rings can be pre-shaped (rigid or semirigid) or flexible. The size and shape of the mitral valve annulus change during diastole and systole because of the contraction and relaxation of muscle bundles posteriorly surrounding the mural part of the mitral annulus.37 Historically, annuloplasty rings were rigid. Rigid rings were intended to remodel annular deformity associated with chronic atrial and ventricular enlargement, stabilize mitral valve repair by reducing tension on reconstructed valvular parts, enhance leaflet coaptation by reducing the mitral surface area, and prevent further annular dilatation.37 Today, more flexible annuloplasty rings are available. Borghetti et al37 found that a flexible annuloplasty ring (glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium) improved valvular function. A more flexible annuloplasty ring resembles the patient’s inherent mitral valve annulus because the valve annulus can enlarge during diastole and become smaller during systole.

In decalcification of the mitral valve annulus, calcium is removed, the annulus is reconstructed, and further valve repair is done as indicated. Extensive valve calcification may necessitate mitral valve replacement.

Chordae Tendineae Repair or Reconstruction
Mitral insufficiency can also be related to dysfunction of the subvalvular mechanism. Elongated chordae or detached chordae contribute to prolapse of the anterior or posterior valve leaflets, resulting in mitral insufficiency. As described previously, the chordae tendineae support the valve leaflets and prevent the leaflets from prolapsing into the left atrium during systole. If the chordae are elongated or some of them are detached, they cannot provide the necessary valve support, resulting in prolapse of the leaflets into the left atrium during systole. As the mitral valve leaflets prolapse, mitral insufficiency occurs. Usually the posterior valve leaflet is affected.38

Shortening elongated chordae tendineae preserves accurate function of valve leaflets. The chordae tendineae are shortened and attached to the mitral valve leaflet or to the papillary muscle. Figure 6Go depicts a technique used to shorten elongated chordae tendineae in which the chordae tendineae are folded onto themselves and then sutured to the valve leaflet. Elongated chordae tendineae can also be folded and tucked within the papillary muscle or folded and sutured to the exterior of a papillary muscle (Figure 7Go).



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  		Figure 6 Repair of elongated chordae tendineae by suturing to the valve leaflet.

 


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  		Figure 7 Repair of an elongated chordae tendineae by suturing within a papillary muscle (A) and suturing to the side of a papillary muscle (B).

 
Ruptured chordae of the anterior leaflet may be replaced by transposing chordae from the posterior leaflet.39 Ruptured chordae can also be replaced by new chordae made of natural or artificial materials, such as polytetrafluoroethylene suture material.38–40 This procedure is referred to as chordal replacement (Figure 8Go).



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  		Figure 8 Chordal replacement with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures.

 
Reconstruction of chordae tendineae is used to elongate fibrotic tendineae. Shortened or fused chordae tendineae are excised. Shortened chordae are longitudinally cut in an effort to lengthen the chordae and improve support of the valve leaflets. If several chordae tendineae fuse, a fenestration is performed by excising a triangular segment of fibrous tissue (Figure 9Go).



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  		Figure 9 Reconstruction of shortened or fused chordae tendineae.

 
Valve Leaflet Repair
Myxomatous and degenerative changes in the leaflet tissues with subsequent elongation or even rupture of the chordae can result in mitral insufficiency.18 Changes occur in the posterior or anterior leaflets. Repair of a valve leaflet may involve resecting a segment of the prolapsed leaflet (Figure 10Go). A prosthetic annuloplasty ring is usually required to provide additional support to the valve annulus after valve leaflet resection.



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  		Figure 10 Resection of a prolapsed valve segment.

 
Valve leaflet reconstruction may be needed to repair damaged leaflets. Extensive infection of the mitral valve necessitates valvular replacement. However, localized infection and limited destruction of leaflets or chordae are treated with valve repair.39 The infected leaflets may be repaired with patches of glutaraldehyde-treated autologous or bovine pericardium.26,39 New chordae tendineae (neochords) are created from polytetrafluoroethylene sutures.38–40 Hvass et al41 reported successful transfer of a posterior tricuspid leaflet (with chordae and papillary muscle attached) to repair a torn posterior mitral valve leaflet.

Papillary Muscle Repair
Papillary muscles may become torn or detached during periods of myocardial ischemia. The damaged papillary muscles can be surgically reattached.

Assessment of Mitral Valve Surgery
The effectiveness of mitral valve repair and reconstruction is evaluated at the end of surgery. Traditionally, isotonic sodium chloride solution was injected into the left ventricle to assess valve competence. More commonly today, transesophageal echocardiography is used in the operating room at the end of the surgery to evaluate the effectiveness of the valve repair. If problems are noted, additional repair or reconstruction is necessary or the valve may need to be replaced.

Aortic Valve Repair
Repair of the aortic valve is not as developed as is repair of the mitral valve. Repair of a stenotic or insufficient aortic valve is more difficult than repair of the mitral valve because the closing mechanism is more precise.42

Open aortic commissurotomy may be used on stenotic or fused aortic valves. The commissures are incised in an attempt to open the stenotic valve.

Calcification of the valve cusps may contribute to aortic stenosis. Calcium deposits are carefully removed from the aortic valve. Before aortic valve prostheses became available, manual debridement of severely stenotic aortic valves was performed at some centers.43

Once aortic valve prostheses were available, fewer aortic valve repairs were done because of the high prevalence of recalcification and restenosis after valve debridement.43 The recent success of mitral valve repair and the application of the ultrasonic surgical aspirator have prompted renewed interest in aortic valve repair.44–48

Repair for treatment of aortic regurgitation may be more promising than repair for treatment of aortic stenosis. Aortic regurgitation is due to cusp retraction (by fibrosis or calcification), prolapse, and perforation or is due to dilatation of the aortic root.39 Cusp retraction is treated by extending or replacing the cusp with glutaraldehyde-treated bovine or autologous pericardium.39 A triangular section of a prolapsed aortic valve cusp is removed in an effort to eliminate aortic regurgitation. Pericardial patches are used to repair perforations in the aortic valve cusps. Valve resuspension may decrease or eliminate the amount of regurgitation caused by dilatation of the aortic valve annulus. Before valve resuspension, pathological aortic tissue is resected to restore the geometry of the aortic root.49 Fibrotic valve leaflets contribute to aortic insufficiency. Carpentier42 developed a technique to shave the edges of thickened valve leaflets to improve or eliminate aortic insufficiency.

As with mitral valve repair, accurate repair of the aortic valve is essential. The effectiveness of the repair is assessed at the end of surgery by using transesophageal echocardiography.

Surgical Outcomes

Mitral Valve Repair Versus Mitral Valve Replacement
A mitral commissurotomy is performed to improve valve function in a stenotic mitral valve with little calcification. Surgical commissurotomy improves outcomes for patients with New York Heart Association class III and class IV heart failure.24 Cohn et al50 reported that 95% of patients with New York Heart Association class III heart failure had survived 10 years after commissurotomies. The mean operative mortality rates for commissurotomy and valve replacement are 1% to 3% and 5% to 10%, respectively.

Mitral valve reconstruction offers another surgical option for patients experiencing acute mitral insufficiency due to ischemia. Rankin et al51 reported that hospital mortality rates were significantly lower for patients undergoing valve repair (26%) than for patients undergoing mitral valve replacement (53%).

Outcomes related to cardiac valve repair surgery were investigated in multiple studies20,37,40,52–71 Most of the studies involved patients who had mitral valve repair (Tables 1Go and 2Go). Mitral valve repair has been used to treat patients with mitral insufficiency, mitral stenosis, and mixed mitral valve disease (both mitral stenosis and mitral insufficiency). Successful outcomes have been reported for patients who had mitral valve repair for treatment of mitral valve dysfunction caused by degenerative valve disease, rheumatic valve disease, and other causes, including endocarditis. A variety of types of valve repair surgeries have been used, including annuloplasty with and without prosthetic rings, leaflet resection, leaflet patching, chordal shortening, chordal transfer, chordal replacement, debridement, commissurotomy, and papillary muscle reattachment.


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  		Table 1 Studies comparing mitral valve repair and mitral valve replacement

 

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  		Table 2 Mitral valve repair studies

 
Mitral valve repair and mitral valve replacement have been compared (Table 1Go). Overall, the operative mortality is lower after mitral valve repair than after mitral valve replacement.52,57,58,67,70 For patients who had mitral valve repair, survival rates at 4.5 to 15 years were either the same or better than the rates for patients who had mitral valve replacement.52,57,58,67,70 Freedom from reoperation rates were also similar for both groups of patients: 87% to 100% for valve repair and 80% to 92% for valve replacement.52,57,67,70

Reported operative mortality rates for patients who had mitral valve repair were 0% to 5.4% (Tables 1Go and 2Go). Patients who had mitral valve repair and no additional cardiac surgical procedures had operative mortality rates of 3.3% or less.20,37,56,57,60,62–66,68,71 Successful long-term survival rates (>10 years) have been reported for patients who had mitral valve repair.40,54,55,59,60 At 10 to 15 years after mitral valve repair surgery, freedom from reoperation rates were from 67% to 98%.40,53–55,60,64 Mitral valve repair surgery can be performed with few long-term complications, including thromboembolism and endocarditis.6,26,40,53–55,57

Aortic Valve Repair Versus Aortic Valve Replacement
Aortic valve repair has been used successfully to relieve stenosis and avoid early aortic valve insufficiency.43 King et al72 performed mechanical decalcification of the aortic valve on 92 patients. At 5, 10, and 15 years after surgery, the freedom from reoperation rates were 77%, 48%, and 38%, respectively. Although ultrasonic decalcification may adequately relieve stenosis, the unacceptable prevalence of late regurgitation and the prevalence of restenosis have limited the use of this technique.44

Izumoto et al73 repaired the aortic valves of 63 patients who had aortic regurgitation. The 5-year survival rate was 95.1%, and the freedom from reoperation rate was 78%. Izumoto and colleagues concluded that surgery for aortic valve repair is not yet an adequate alternative because of the prevalent need for reoperation. This conclusion was confirmed by Gillinov et al,74 who found that patients operated on for combined aortic and mitral valve repair had a 10-year survival rate of 62% and a freedom from reoperation rate of 65%.

Additional data need to be collected after aortic valve repairs. At this point, the early and long-term effects of aortic valve repairs are unknown.25

Management of Patients After Valve Repair Surgery

Compared with valve replacement, valve repair is usually recommended earlier in the disease process. The advantage of this earlier treatment is that the patient is usually younger, the valve dysfunction is less advanced, and left ventricular function may be preserved. If surgery is performed purely for mitral valve repair or reconstruction, an uncomplicated postoperative surgical recovery is expected. However, often cardiac valve repair surgery is performed concomitantly with other cardiac surgical procedures, including tricuspid or aortic valve surgery and coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Postoperative management varies according to the type of cardiac surgery performed. Achievement of normothermia, oxygenation, fluid and electrolyte balance, hemodynamic stability, and comfort and early detection of potential complications are essential.

Care of patients after cardiac valve repair is similar to care of patients after cardiac valve replacement. In the immediate postoperative period, assessment of the patient’s hemodynamic status is important. The major goals of management are to optimize preload, enhance contractility, and reduce afterload.75 Patients with valvular disease often have increased cardiac filling pressures. Although postoperatively the dysfunctional cardiac valve is repaired, the heart requires time to adjust to the improved hemodynamic function. Preoperative pulmonary artery pressures are a useful guide for postoperative management. Patients usually do better in the postoperative period if fluid replacement is adjusted on the basis of presurgical right atrial and pulmonary artery wedge pressures.76 Vasoactive agents may be required in the immediate postoperative period to optimize cardiac output. Inotropic agents may be necessary to improve cardiac contractility, and vasodilators may be necessary to decrease systematic vascular resistance and aid in afterload reduction.

Continuous monitoring for potential cardiac dysrhythmias is essential in the postoperative period. Conduction disturbances commonly occur after valve surgery, because the mitral and aortic valves lie close to the conduction pathways. Transient or permanent heart block may occur because of edema, ischemia, or damage to the conduction pathways. Conduction disturbances may necessitate temporary epicardial pacing and at times even permanent pacemaker therapy.

Atrial dysrhythmias are a common complication after cardiac surgery and occur with increased frequency after cardiac valve surgery.77 Prophylactic beta-blockade is usually is started preoperatively and continued postoperatively to prevent atrial dysrhythmias.

Anticoagulation therapy is started after cardiac valve replacement. Although long-term anticoagulation is usually not necessary after cardiac valve repair, short-term anticoagulation therapy (3 months) is commonly started after cardiac valve repair.37,40,53,55,56,58,60 Anticoagulation is started within 48 hours of cardiac valve surgery, after the chest tubes and epicardial pacing wires are removed. Lessana et al55 administered subcutaneous heparin for 2 weeks and then warfarin (Coumadin) for patients in sinus rhythm. For patients having cardiac valve surgery (not specific to cardiac valve repair surgery), the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for the management of patients with valvular heart disease25 recommend a 3- to 5-day overlap of treatment with heparin and warfarin and discontinuation of the heparin when the patient has an international normalized ratio (INR) of 2.0 to 3.0. Long-term aspirin therapy may be recommended for patients after valve repair.40,41 Long-term anticoagulation therapy is necessary for patients who have a history of thrombus formation, atrial fibrillation, left atrial dilatation, or a mechanical valve.

Teaching patients about anticoagulation therapy is essential. Patients need frequent assessment and monitoring of INRs. Monthly determination of the INR is indicated; the ratio should be maintained at 2.0 to 3.5 (or within the desired range as prescribed by the cardiologist).25 Patients should report the occurrence of bruising, bleeding, epistaxis, and hemoptysis. Dieticians should review nutritional precautions with patients and the patients’ families before patients are discharged from the hospital. Patients are advised what foods have vitamin K and are told to avoid eating large amounts of yellow and dark green vegetables and fatty foods, which increase the absorption of vitamin K. Because vitamin K promotes clotting of the blood, eating many foods with increased amounts of the vitamin can reduce the effectiveness of warfarin. Patients should avoid alcohol and medications (eg, aspirin) that may interact with warfarin, because both potentiate the anticoagulation effect of warfarin.

Bacterial endocarditis is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication of cardiac valve surgery.78 Lifelong antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for patients with acquired valvular dysfunction.25,79 Patients who have valve repair still must take antibiotics prophylactically before dental work, gastrointestinal procedures, genitourinary procedures, surgery, and other invasive procedures to minimize the risk of cardiac valve infection.

Any patient who has had an episode of rheumatic fever is at high risk for recurrent episodes of acute rheumatic fever. Patients with a history of rheumatic fever should take antibiotics throughout life as prophylaxis against the recurrence of rheumatic carditis.25

After discharge, patients are followed up by their cardiac surgeon within the first few weeks of surgery. The interval for routine follow-up depends on each patient’s needs. Patients receiving anticoagulation therapy require frequent monitoring of their INR. After anticoagulation therapy is discontinued, patients usually have follow-up with a cardiologist at least yearly.

Future

As the number of cardiac valve repairs increases, most likely more patients with coronary artery disease and valve dysfunction will have coronary artery bypass graft surgery and valve repair. In addition, an increased number of patients will have one dysfunctional valve repaired and another dysfunctional valve replaced.

An increasing number of patients will also have rerepair of an originally repaired cardiac valve. The rerepair may involve procedures needed to make adjustments to earlier repairs, or the original repair may be intact but the valve may need repair of newly developed valvular dysfunction. Although the prevalence of rerepaired cardiac valves is low, successful rerepairs have been reported.20,40,53–56,62,64

Minimally invasive approaches are currently being used for valve repair.28,30,34 New approaches to minimally invasive valve repair will be used for patients who have valve repair in the future. It is anticipated that 3-dimensional surgical visualization systems will further enhance visualization of cardiac valves.40

Technology will continue to change cardiac surgery. Currently computer-enhanced mitral valve surgery is being performed.80,81 The computer-enhanced telemanipulation system offers the potential for endoscopic valve repair with hands-free surgery. Repair of the mitral valve is performed via remote control; the surgeon sits at a surgical console directing computer-enhanced instruments used to perform the surgery. The surgeon’s motions are sensed by motion sensors, computed, and transferred online to the tip of the end-effectors (within the thoracotomy incision). From the console where the surgeon sits, he or she can communicate with the operating room staff via wireless microphones. This technology has been used successfully in repair of valve leaflets and chordae and placement of annuloplasty valve rings. Surgeons claim that totally endoscopic mitral valve repair surgery can be successfully performed with this technology.82

The future will bring advances in tissue transfer. Transfer of autologous tissue from the posterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve has been used to repair torn mitral valve leaflets.40,83 Tissue-engineered valve leaflets are being investigated and may be used in the future.

No nursing research has been done in patients having cardiac valve repair, so many research possibilities exist. Studies of preoperative preparation, postoperative management, and recovery at home are needed.

Conclusion

The increase in the number of valve repairs will continue. If a valve can be repaired, an attempt to fix the dysfunctional valve is beneficial. The native valve is preserved, and the risks of chronic anticoagulation and prosthetic valve failure are avoided.25 Although, the repair may not last a lifetime, it may delay surgery for valve replacement and thus delay the risks associated with prosthetic valve replacement. Outcome data for mitral valve repair are promising. Additional outcome data for aortic valve repair are needed. According to Grunkemeier and colleagues,84 valve repair, when practical, should be considered preferable to replacement, in both mitral and aortic positions, although aortic valve repair has not yet stood the test of time.

Acknowledgments

I thank John Mannion, MD, for his review of an earlier version of this article. I also thank Jim Wiegand for his assistance in the development of tables for this article.

References

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