Considerations for Reoperative Heart Valve Surgery
Mateo Marin‐Cuartas, Suzanne de Waha, Diyar Saeed, Martín Misfeld, Philipp Kiefer, Michael A. Borger
Abstract
Reoperative valve surgery is being performed with increasing frequency in the last decades. This is mainly due to the increasing use of bioprosthetic valves, a growing population of patients presenting with prosthetic valve endocarditis, and an ageing population. Reoperative valve surgery has been historically associated with poorer outcomes than primary valve surgery. However, continuous advancements in modern cardiac surgery techniques and perioperative care have led to considerable improvement in postoperative outcomes. This review outlines considerations for reoperative heart valve surgery including preoperative assessment, perioperative management, and technical surgical aspects to maximize the chances of successful outcomes in this challenging patient population.