Transforming Lives with DVR (Double Valve Replacement)

Double Valve Replacement (DVR) is a critical surgical procedure that replaces both the aortic and mitral heart valves. Here's a concise summary:

What is DVR?

- DVR involves replacing the aortic and mitral valves, crucial for regulating heart blood flow, typically due to severe valve diseases.

Importance of DVR:

- This surgery is crucial for patients with simultaneous severe disease in both valves, preventing heart failure and other serious complications.

Types of Prosthetic Valves:

- Mechanical Valves: Long-lasting, require life-long blood thinners.

- Biological Valves: Made from animal or human tissue, need replacement after 10-15 years, do not require long-term blood thinners.

Conditions Treated by DVR:

- Aortic and mitral stenosis (narrowing) and regurgitation (leakage), which impair normal heart function.

Procedure Steps:

- Patients undergo general anesthesia, surgeons make a chest incision, remove the damaged valves, and implant prosthetic ones, followed by a hospital recovery period.

Recovery and Life After DVR:

- Post-surgery, patients typically stay in the hospital for a week, engage in cardiac rehabilitation, and need regular cardiologist follow-ups to ensure valve function and manage any complications.

**Risks:**

- Includes bleeding, infection, blood clots, valve dysfunction, and potential need for a pacemaker.

Long-Term Outlook:

- Most patients see improved life quality, with reduced symptoms and lower complication risks.

Conclusion:

- DVR is a life-saving option for those with serious valve diseases, offering improved cardiac function and quality of life through advanced surgical techniques.