Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery - Aortic Valve Repair and Aortic Valve Replacement 

The flow of blood through the human heart is controlled by four valves: aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonary. The heart and aorta (the main artery that goes from the heart to the chest and abdomen) are connected by the aortic valve, making it extremely vital, and in case it gets damaged or diseased, its normal functioning may be hindered. Aortic valve surgery may be needed when the heart valve doesn’t close completely (called aortic regurgitation) or when the valve doesn’t open fully (called aortic stenosis).

There are two primary options to choose from for aortic valve surgery: aortic valve repair and valve replacement. Aortic valve repair involves tightening or loosening the valve so that it functions properly in aortic valve replacement surgery, the faulty valve is removed and replaced with an artificial valve. 

Is a heart valve repair major surgery?

Both procedures are major surgeries and the decision to go in for repair or replacement of the aortic valve will be based on the patient's individual needs.

The department of cardiac sciences at Aakash Healthcare provides some of the best heart valve treatment in India, with an exceptional track record in all types of heart valve surgery, including valve repair and replacement. Their experience and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams of other specialists have enabled our surgeons to handle highly complicated cases, using a range of aortic valve repair techniques that offer our patients great aortic valve repair success rates. 

How will I know if I need an aortic valve repair or replacement?

A few factors can dictate whether an individual requires aortic valve repair or replacement. The severity of aortic valve disease is the primary decider, while age and general health also play a role. There are also cases where patients may need to get surgery to correct another heart problem along with aortic valve disease, for instance, bypass surgery to remedy coronary artery disease, which can treat both conditions in one go.

However, most damaged aortic valves can simply not be repaired, and performing heart valve repair surgery can prove much harder than valve replacement at times. Each case is unique and will depend on individual needs, and the expertise and experience of your cardiac care team will tailor a plan for you based on the same. 

Both aortic valve repair and aortic valve replacement may be done through traditional open-heart surgery or using minimally invasive methods. An open heart will involve a cut in the middle of the chest while minimally invasive surgery will involve smaller incisions in the chest or inserting a catheter in the leg or chest (called transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR).

Minimally invasive heart surgery also involves a short hospital stay, faster recovery, and lesser pain compared to conventional open-heart surgery.

Your situation and your doctor’s advice will help you weigh the benefits and risks of both options.

In some cases, individuals who have aortic valve disease may not be viable candidates for getting an open-heart surgery due to other existing health issues, like lung or kidney disease which could make the procedure much too risky.

Quite a few individuals with aortic valve disease also have coronary artery disease and might need heart bypass surgery to reestablish proper blood flow. In most cases, a heart bypass surgery will be performed via traditional open-heart surgery, so an aortic valve procedure, if needed, would also be performed the same way.

Risks involved 

The risks that come with an aortic valve repair or aortic valve replacement surgery will vary and depend on a patient’s general health, and the diagnosis and recommendations on which procedure you have to go for will be based on the expertise and know-how of your healthcare team. To get the best possible aortic valve surgery in Delhi, try and visit a hospital or center with experienced multidisciplinary heart teams in these particular procedures, and make sure to perform many aortic valve surgeries with a good track record. 

General risks that are associated with aortic valve repair and aortic valve replacement surgery can include bleeding during the procedure, blood clots forming, heart rhythm issues, infections, and stroke.

After getting a minimally invasive aortic valve repair or aortic valve replacement surgery, you can return to your work early.

You'll, of course, have to take prescription medicine and come in for regular follow-up appointments.

Also, Read: Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery - Atrial Septal Defect Closure