Possible complications of a heart valve replacement
Complications can happen during or after a heart valve replacement. Some complications can be serious or life-threatening.
But if you have severe heart valve disease, the risks of surgery are lower than the risks of not treating your condition.
Your doctor will explain the risks to you before the operation. They will only recommend heart valve replacement if the benefits outweigh the risks for you.
Wound infection
There's a small chance that the wound in your chest could get infected after the operation. This can be treated with antibiotics.
Bleeding
If you have bleeding after the operation, you may need more surgery.
Problems with your heart rhythm
Some people get an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) after having a heart valve replacement. This usually gets better after a few days.
If it does not get better, you may need to be fitted with a pacemaker. This is a small electrical device that's put under the skin in your chest to keep your heart beating regularly.
Kidney problems
Rarely, a heart valve replacement can affect how well your kidneys work. This usually gets better after a few days. It's more likely to happen if you already had kidney problems before the operation.
If it does not get better it can lead to kidney failure (chronic kidney disease), which may need to be treated with dialysis.
Blood clots or a stroke
If doctors think you're at higher risk of a blood clot or stroke after the operation you'll be given medicines for the first few weeks to help prevent this.
If you have a mechanical heart valve you'll need to take an anticoagulant medicine (usually warfarin) for the rest of your life to help prevent blood clots.
Taking warfarin can cause side effects including bleeding more than usual.
Problems with your new heart valve
Most replacement heart valves last 15 to 20 years, or longer if you have a mechanical valve. But they can stop working as well and your heart valve disease symptoms could come back.
If this happens you may need further surgery to replace the valve again.
Urgent advice: Call your care team if:
You've recently had a heart valve replacement and you have:
- soreness or redness around your wound that's getting worse (redness may be less obvious on brown or black skin)
- bleeding or pus from your wound
- a high temperature, or you feel very hot, cold or shivery
- heart palpitations (where your heartbeat becomes more noticeable)
These could be signs of an infection or problems with your heart rhythm.
If you cannot call your care team, ask for an urgent GP appointment, call 111 or get help from 111 online.
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if:
- you have throbbing or cramping pain, swelling, redness and warmth in a leg or arm
- you have sudden breathlessness, sharp chest pain (this may be worse when you breathe in) and a cough or you are coughing up blood
- you have difficulty speaking or moving your arm or leg, or your face has dropped on one side
These could be signs of serious complications such as a blood clot or a stroke.
Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Bring any medicines you take with you.