Surgery may be an option for some heart failure patients depending on the cause of their disease.
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) - To supply adequate blood flow to the heart muscle, bypass surgery may be an option when coronary arteries are blocked.
Valve Replacement
When heart failure is caused or made worse by a weak valve, sometimes the best course of action is to repair or replace the valve. There are two main types of valves: mechanical (or artificial) and biological (made of human or animal tissue).
- Mechanical valves - available in a wide range of sizes and easily implanted. The most common problem is blood-clot formation, so people with mechanical valves must remain on anticoagulants.
- Biological valves - porcine (pig) and bovine (cow) valves also come in many sizes and are easily implanted. They have a lower risk of blood clotting, so people generally do not have to take an anticoagulant for the long term. However, they have a limited life span and usually must be replaced.
- Homograft valves - transplanted from a human donor. They also have low risks of blood clotting and infection. However, the supply is limited. They also deteriorate over time but are thought to be more durable than biological valves.
Heart Transplant
Some patients with severe, progressive heart failure cannot be helped with medication and lifestyle changes, leaving heart transplant as one of the only treatment options.
The procedure involves replacing the diseased heart or heart and lungs with organs from a healthy donor. During surgery the diseased heart is removed except for the back walls of the upper chambers. The back walls of the donor heart are opened and the heart is sewn into the chest cavity.
Most patients are able to walk several days after surgery, and if there are no signs of rejection, the patient may return home in several weeks.
Rejection is the most serious early complication, but improvements in anti-rejection drugs have helped increase survival rates. Infection is another possible complication, and medication to prevent infection are part of the treatment. Medication taken over a long period of time may also cause complications.
Results depend on the patient's age, health and response to the transplant. However, many transplant patients find the transplant relieves most of their symptoms and gives them a new opportunity to enjoy life.
Lifestyle changes such as eating less salt, exercising in moderation, and getting enough rest may help relieve some symptoms experienced in all stages of heart failure. Exercise and rest are both important. More about lifestyle changes.
Last Updated on: 20.01.2005
