läppäkirurgiaa

Läppäkirurgia, also known as valve surgery, refers to surgical procedures performed on the heart valves. The heart has four main valves: the aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonary valves. These valves ensure that blood flows in the correct direction through the heart. When a valve is damaged or diseased, it can impair the heart's ability to pump blood efficiently.

There are two primary types of läppäkirurgia: valve repair and valve replacement. Valve repair aims to fix the damaged valve, preserving its original structure and function as much as possible. This might involve procedures like re-sizing, reshaping, or reinforcing the valve leaflets or the ring surrounding the valve. Valve replacement involves removing the diseased valve and substituting it with an artificial prosthetic valve. Prosthetic valves can be mechanical, made of durable materials like metal, or biological, derived from animal tissue or human donors.

Indications for läppäkirurgia typically include severe valve stenosis (narrowing of the valve opening) or regurgitation (leakage of blood backward through the valve). These conditions can lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, and heart palpitations. The decision to undergo surgery is based on the severity of the valve dysfunction, the patient's overall health, and the presence of symptoms.

The surgical approach can be open-heart surgery, which involves a larger chest incision, or minimally invasive surgery, using smaller incisions and specialized instruments. Minimally invasive techniques often lead to faster recovery times and reduced scarring. The specific procedure chosen depends on the type of valve problem, the patient's anatomy, and the surgeon's expertise. Recovery after läppäkirurgia varies, with most patients requiring a hospital stay and a period of rehabilitation.