By love-89.com On September 29, the 25th World Heart Day, we had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Huang Huanlei, the Deputy Director of Ganzhou Hospital and Head of the Valve and Coronary Artery Disease Surgery Department at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital. He pointed out that heart valve disease is a common cardiovascular issue, yet many people remain largely unaware of its existence. With China’s aging population on the rise, Dr. Huang emphasized that the incidence of degenerative valve diseases is expected to grow, creating a significant public health challenge.
Dr. Huang explained that the heart consists of four chambers, each connected by valves: the aortic valve, mitral valve, tricuspid valve, and pulmonary valve. “The location and symptoms of valve disease can vary significantly based on the underlying causes,” he noted.
The clinical manifestations of heart valve disease are quite varied, with typical symptoms including shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain, and fatigue. Dr. Huang highlighted that many patients often misinterpret exertion-induced shortness of breath as a normal part of aging or a decrease in fitness, leading to a dangerous misconception that may delay seeking medical advice and potentially jeopardize their lives.
Currently, treatment options for heart valve disease encompass medications, surgical interventions, and interventional therapies. Dr. Huang advised that once heart function becomes significantly compromised, surgery should be a priority, even if patients do not show obvious symptoms or severe complications. For patients with pronounced symptoms, surgical intervention is particularly crucial. When a valve is too damaged to be repaired, it must be replaced with an artificial one.
“In the last decade, the approach to heart valve disease treatment has transformed remarkably,” Dr. Huang shared. “In the past, surgery meant traditional open-chest procedures, requiring a large incision along the sternum. Now, we’ve transitioned to minimally invasive techniques, with incision sizes reduced to as little as three centimeters.”
Regarding surgical valve replacements, Dr. Huang explained that there are two primary types of artificial valves: mechanical and bioprosthetic. Mechanical valves are durable but require lifelong anticoagulation therapy, which comes with risks of bleeding and clot complications. In contrast, bioprosthetic valves, often made from bovine pericardium or porcine tissue, closely resemble the human heart’s structure and minimize the risk of clotting, although they do degrade over time, typically lasting around ten to fifteen years.
When it comes to selecting a valve, Dr. Huang stressed the importance of age in the decision-making process. “We generally consider 60 years old as a key point. For patients over this age, bioprosthetic valves are usually recommended. Additionally, for patients with particular risk factors, such as a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding issues, we tend to favor bioprosthetic options.”
He also highlighted that advancements in bioprosthetic valve design now incorporate expandable stent frameworks. For example, a stent initially measuring 25 millimeters can be expanded to accommodate larger interventional valves, making future valve replacements easier without the need for open surgery. This innovation in valve design allows for multiple interventional procedures to be carried out without additional invasive operations, marking a significant advancement in the treatment of heart valve disease.