Anesthetic management for valvular heart disease

Abstract

Patients suffering from valvular heart disease most commonly do so as the result of congenital abnormalities or acquired degenerative and infective processes. The impact of these disorders on quality of life is tremendous. Surgical correction represents the sole treatment for many of these conditions. The two most common procedures involving valvular heart disease are aortic valve and mitral valve surgery. This chapter reviews the anesthetic consideration for patients undergoing cardiac surgery for left and right heart valves.