The human heart has four chambers, between which there are valves to direct blood flow and prevent blood from returning to the heart. In patients who suffer from heart valve stenosis and insufficiency or other types of heart disease, we see blood returning back to the atria and ventricles. These problems put pressure on the heart. In cases where the heart valve defect is severe, there is no choice but to replace the heart valves with an artificial heart valve.

An artificial heart is a device that temporarily or permanently replaces the patient’s heart and performs its functions, and is generally used during the heart transplant operation and temporarily performs the functions of the heart. However, in cases where heart transplantation is impossible, this device is used permanently.

How the artificial heart works

The human heart pumps blood at an average rate of 60 to 100 times per minute. The heart works in two phases: In the first phase, the right and left atria contract simultaneously and send blood to the right and left ventricles of the heart, respectively. In the second stage, the ventricles contract and direct blood to the lungs through the right ventricle and to the rest of the body through the left ventricle. After that, the heart muscles rest until the next beat. In this interval, the heart is filled with blood again. In patients who use a new artificial heart, the artificial heart replaces the ventricles and the atria are still in place; so in the first step of the blood pumping process, the atria of the natural heart still contract simultaneously and send blood out of the heart. . But the second stage is done differently with the normal heart. Since the design of the artificial heart is such that it sends blood to only one of the two ventricles at any given moment, the blood is first sent to the lungs and then pumped to other parts of the body. The artificial heart is capable of pumping blood at a rate of ten liters per minute for daily activities

Surgical stage

Artificial heart transplant is a very delicate surgery. Not only does the surgeon have to separate the right and left ventricles from the patient’s heart, but he also has to insert a foreign object into the chest. During surgery, the patient is temporarily connected to an artificial heart and lung pump so that the heart stops beating and surgery is possible. The artificial heart is connected to the atria of the natural heart by hundreds of stitches, and the surgeon uses a layer of artificial tissue to cover the stitches. The number of personnel present in an artificial heart transplant is usually very large. In addition to two elite surgeons and their assistants, several specialists and nursing teams control the situation. The steps are as follows:

1. Placing the internal coil in the abdomen
2. Opening the chest and connecting the heart and lung pump device (at this stage, the heart stops beating and the patient’s blood is pumped through the device).
3. Isolation of normal heart ventricles (atria are not separated).
4. Using a plastic model to determine the exact placement of the artificial heart
5. Cutting the artificial tissues in desired sizes and suturing them to the aorta and pulmonary artery
6. The artificial heart enters the chest and its connections are established with the pulmonary artery, aorta, and right and left atria.
7. Complete evacuation of the air inside the device
8. Separating the patient from the heart and lung pump
9. Ensuring the accuracy of heart function
10. Closing the chest

Conditions for receiving links

Candidates for artificial hearts are usually the <sickest patients> That is, in the most severe state of cardiac discomfort, an artificial heart transplant is performed only when the transplant candidate has all the following conditions:

• He is in the most acute stage of heart disease.
• His life expectancy is estimated to be less than 30 days.
• There is no possibility of receiving a normal heart.
• There is no alternative treatment available. to match the dimensions of the artificial heart. This condition is checked through CAT Scan and X-Ray. The obtained photos are reconstructed using a computer program called CAD for a kind of virtual measurement. This software removes the natural heart virtually and places the AbioCor virtually in the chest, allowing for transplantation if the dimensions match.

 

 

 

Complications after heart valve replacement surgery

In these surgeries, one of the most important organs of the body is manipulated, so it is certainly not without risks and complications. In general, heart valve replacement or operation carries the following risks for a person:

• Bleeding that may cause shock.
• Allergic reaction and breathing problems due to anesthesia
• Blood clot formation, especially venous thrombosis that forms in the leg or pelvis and may go to the lungs and eventually lead to pulmonary embolism.
• Infection

You should know the fact that heart valve replacement surgery has complications, the complications after heart valve replacement surgery include:

• Heart attack
• Heart rhythm disorder or cardiac arrhythmia
• Memory problems
• Renal failure
• Pericardiotomy syndrome
• Stroke
• Death

Post-transplant care

By reducing the symptoms and improving the patient’s physical condition, heart valve replacement provides the possibility of a normal life for the patient. Keep in mind that valve replacement and the use of an artificial heart valve do not necessarily mean that you no longer need care. Conversely, after heart valve repair or replacement surgery, you will need to make some changes to your normal lifestyle, including:

• Regular exercise
• Healthy diet
• Weight control
• Smoking cessation
• Stress control
• Treatment of diseases that aggravate heart problems, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.

 

 

Result

The heart is one of the most important organs in the body and everything related to the heart should be done with the utmost care and skill. Therefore, choosing the best heart surgeon and cardiologist is very important in the heart valve repair or replacement operation. In this operation, the surgeon repairs the damaged valve or replaces it with an artificial heart valve. The success rate of heart valve operation depends on the age of the patient, his physical condition and health, the severity of the disease and the condition of the heart valve. Artificial heart valves are made of metal or animal tissue, which are used by different methods such as open heart surgery or new less invasive methods.