What to eat after mitral valve surgery?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Cardiologist - Cardiovascular Center - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

1. General principles when taking care of patients after heart valve replacement

Along with the mitral valve surgery method, the experience of the surgeon and the care of patients after heart valve replacement plays an important role in improving the patient's health, which further emphasizes the benefits of heart valve surgery. subsequent patient care.
Anticoagulation is mandatory for the rest of life if the patient is indicated for mechanical mitral valve replacement. The main role of anticoagulation in this case is to prevent the formation of thrombus that form in the prosthetic leaflets. After the appearance of a blood clot, it can be a potential cause of embolism, a blood clot that travels through the blood to the small blood vessels. Myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke are two of many dangerous complications, which can be life-threatening.

In addition, if a blood clot forms and increases in size at the site, it can interfere with the function of the valves themselves, making the patient more likely to die suddenly. On the other hand, if the patient uses anticoagulants at a higher dose than prescribed by the doctor, the blood clotting function inside the body will be disturbed in the direction of easy bleeding. Patients are at risk of facing complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding, brain hemorrhage or intramuscular bleeding. In addition to complying with the regular use of anticoagulants, patients should remember to have regular follow-up appointments to check the INR value reflecting the hemostatic function for appropriate adjustment.
The patient should be informed by the doctor about the danger signs that need to be re-examined, if any, including:
Fresh blood in the stools with black stools or stools, bad smell Nosebleeds or bleeding gums Natural bleeding show many bruises on the skin Blood in urine If the patient is female, heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding Chest pain Shortness of breath Restriction of movement After surgery, in addition to the use of anticoagulants, if encountered If there are any health problems, patients need to visit a medical facility to be prescribed appropriate treatment. Self-medication while taking anticoagulants is a very dangerous thing to do.
The construction of a reasonable diet also plays a very important role, determining the quality of life and the occurrence of possible complications. The patient should have a balanced diet, complete with nutrients, based on an understanding of the foods that should and should not be used in patients with mitral valve surgery.

2. What to eat after mitral valve surgery?

The basic principle when taking care of patients with mitral valve surgery is to provide a diet full of nutrients to meet the needs of daily life while limiting certain foods. separate. Foods that should be supplemented for patients with mitral valve surgery include:
Vitamins and fiber: Constipation is a common condition that occurs in patients with general surgery and mitral valve surgery. private. Therefore, adding more fiber and vitamins in the diet is the first thing to do after mitral valve surgery. Fruits and vegetables are foods rich in fiber and vitamins. In addition, these two groups of substances also play a role in promoting disease recovery and preventing cardiovascular complications after surgery. Unsaturated fats: Patients undergoing mitral valve surgery should be prevented from other cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerotic disease. Fat is an indispensable group of substances in the diet because it provides a lot of energy to meet the body's activities. Using unsaturated fat instead of saturated fat is a reasonable method to balance between providing energy for the body and reducing blood cholesterol. Some foods rich in unsaturated fats are vegetable oils, almonds, and walnuts. Protein: This is one of the three basic groups of substances needed by the human body. If choosing to supplement with animal-based protein, patients should prioritize lean meat and remove fat to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. Similarly, if you drink milk to supplement protein, patients should not choose fatty milk.

3. Foods that should not be used after mitral valve surgery

After mitral valve surgery, patients have a variety of foods that should be avoided including:
Foods high in vitamin K: Although eating small amounts of vitamin K-rich foods in a person's diet Anticoagulants will not cause serious problems, but avoid consuming large amounts of foods rich in vitamin K, as they will reduce the effectiveness of anticoagulants. Foods with high vitamin K content include: kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, mustard greens, green lettuce, collard greens, broccoli, asparagus, parsley, ... About drinks , green tea contains a lot of vitamin K and can reduce the effectiveness of anticoagulants Salt: Salty dishes such as fish sauce, pickled cucumber, canned fish meat should not be on the menu of surgical patients. mitral valve surgery. Excess salt intake increases the risk of developing high blood pressure. This is a disease that can worsen the patient's health condition. The heart with the defect just repaired is put under more pressure if the blood pressure reading is high. Carbohydrates: Patients should limit foods high in carbohydrates because they have the potential to increase blood cholesterol levels. Many studies have shown that the ability of carbohydrates to raise blood cholesterol is equivalent to saturated fats of animal origin. Carbonated drinks, cakes, candies, jams should be limited in patients after mitral valve surgery. Saturated fats: A group of substances often derived from animal fat should be limited because they increase cholesterol levels in the blood, leading to the formation of plaque in the blood vessels and serious cardiovascular diseases. other. Saturated fat can easily be found in high amounts in processed foods, fast foods such as hamburgers, pizza, instant noodles. Alcoholic beverages: Some studies indicate that the daily amount of alcoholic beverages should not exceed 2 drinks. However, for patients with mitral valve surgery, it is advisable to stop using alcoholic beverages. Classified as stimulants, they can cause heart rhythm disturbances, increase heart rate, and put pressure on previously unhealthy heart valves.
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