I just received several great questions from Vielka about the use of Metoprolol after heart valve surgery. In her email, Vielka was interested to learn “Why patients take Metoprolol after heart valve surgery?”, “Is it common for patients to take Metoprolol after the operation?” and “How long do patients stay on Metoprolol after surgery?”
To get Vielka an expert response, I contacted Dr. Irving Kron, the Chair, Department of Surgery, at the University of Virginia Health System, and a key member of the UVA Advanced Cardiac Valve Center.
So you know, Dr. Kron is a cardiac guru having completed over 11,000 heart procedures of which more than 5,000 operations included valvular therapy. He’s also a super nice guy who responded to Vielka’s questions in less than 24 hours. 🙂
Dr. Irving Kron – Heart Surgeon
In his letter to Vielka, Dr. Kron first addressed what Metoprolol is:
You asked the question about Metoprolol after heart valve surgery. Metoprolol is a beta blocker which has the effect of reducing heart rate, blood pressure, and decreases the work load of the heart. This is a common drug that is used often after heart surgery and also in patients who have other cardiac conditions.
Then, Dr. Kron shared why patients take Metoprolol after heart valve surgery:
You asked why patients require Metoprolol and there are basically two reasons. One is to reduce high blood pressure after heart valve surgery to reduce the chances of bleeding. More commonly, it is used to reduce the incidences of an arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation. This is not a particularly dangerous arrhythmia but it can cause your heart to race. Atrial fibrillation is common after surgery and most people believe that Metoprolol will reduce the chances of this occurring. It is common for patients to be on this drug and I would say that the majority of our patients get this after valve surgery.
Lastly, Dr. Kron addressed the amount of time that patients stay on Metoprolol:
The final question is how long do the patients stay on it. Typically one stays on it for around a month but it can be indefinitely if you have high blood pressure. This is a very benign drug and is very commonly used.
I hope this helped you learn more about the use of Metoprolol after heart surgery surgery. Thanks to Vielka for sending me these questions and a special thanks to Dr. Kron for sharing his clinical experience and research with our patient community!
Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.
Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.
You asked why patients require Metoprolol and there are basically two reasons. One is to reduce high blood pressure after heart valve surgery to reduce the chances of bleeding. More commonly, it is used to reduce the incidences of an arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation.
Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or heavy aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay. For 3 months, avoid activities that strain your chest or upper arm muscles. This includes pushing a lawn mower or vacuum, mopping floors, or swinging a golf club or tennis racquet.
This surgery involves removing the faulty valve and replacing it with a man-made valve or a biologic valve. Biologic valves are made from pig, cow or human heart tissue and may have man-made parts as well. These valves are specially treated, so no medicines are needed to stop the body from rejecting the valve.
The final question is how long do the patients stay on it. Typically one stays on it for around a month but it can be indefinitely if you have high blood pressure. This is a very benign drug and is very commonly used. I hope this helped you learn more about the use of Metoprolol after heart surgery surgery.
According to a 2021 study, the average life expectancy for individuals ages 60 to 64 who undergo surgical aortic valve replacement is 16.2 years . For people 85 or older, the average life expectancy after valve replacement is 6.1 years.
Recovering from valve surgery usually takes most people between 4 and 8 weeks. If you had minimally invasive surgery, you may recover even sooner. Before you leave hospital, you'll be given detailed instructions for exercise, medications, ongoing wound care and resuming normal activities.
Some fruits are good for patients with open heart valves such as: Berries: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, black currants ... contain many antioxidants to help fight the attack of damaging factors.
After heart valve replacement, although the cardiovascular function has been more stable, it is also advisable to limit substances that make the body feel rapid heartbeat, palpitations such as tea and coffee.
All of these factors can increase your risk of side effects with many medications, not just metoprolol. With metoprolol, especially with the metoprolol tartrate IR form, the most common side effects in people of all ages are tiredness and dizziness. In older adults, these side effects can increase the risk of falls.
Metoprolol can interact with medications and other substances. Examples include digoxin, diphenhydramine, and certain calcium channel blockers. It can also interact with clonidine, certain antidepressants, and alcohol. Most commonly, you may experience dizziness and lightheadedness from a metoprolol interaction.
Can your body “reject” a heart valve? All valve replacements are "biocompatible," which means your new valve will not be rejected by your immune system.
Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or heavy aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay. For 3 months, avoid activities that strain your chest or upper arm muscles. This includes pushing a lawn mower or vacuum, mopping floors, or swinging a golf club or tennis racquet.
Examples: Brisk walking, running, swimming, cycling, playing tennis and jumping rope. Heart-pumping aerobic exercise is the kind that doctors have in mind when they recommend at least 150 minutes per week of moderate activity.
After valve surgery you'll need to take pain medications, as you can feel wound and muscle pain for a few weeks (if the pain persists beyond a few weeks, see your doctor). You'll also be given medicines to lower your risk of infection or a secondary cardiac event.
You will take blood thinning medicine to prevent blood clots after surgery. And you might need antibiotics to prevent infections. Keep in mind that an artificial valve will not work as well as an undamaged natural valve. So even though your heart function is improved, it may not recover to completely normal levels.
Currently, warfarin is the only approved blood thinner for mechanical heart valves. If you have a mechanical heart valve, you'll need to take this medication for the rest of your life.
If you have a valve disorder, doctors may prescribe medications, including: angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) to widen blood vessels and treat high blood pressure.
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Introduction: My name is Cheryll Lueilwitz, I am a sparkling, clean, super, lucky, joyous, outstanding, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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