Heart Valve Prostheses

Replacement of heart valves that have a heart valve defect. Mechanical or biological prostheses are used.

The implantation of a heart valve in aortic position may result in several possible complications or side effects. On the one hand, an immediate postoperative swelling (edema) is caused by the implantation and the associated manipulation, incisions and sutures on the surrounding tissue. Under certain circumstances, this swelling can result in the temporary use of an external pacemaker.

Further possible complications could also be a complete AV block, which can be caused by stings in the conduction system or by the resulting traction on the paravalvular tissue. An AV block may in turn require a permanent pacemaker. If endocarditis or severe calcifications are present, paravalvular leakage may also occur.

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