Your heart is the chief primary pump of your body, its main function being to pump and circulate oxygenated blood all through your body and deoxygenated blood back to the lungs for removal. The heart is a pump, with heart valves that allow blood to flow in a single direction throughout the heart. There are four valves that determine the flow of blood through the heart. A heart valve is a kind of one-way door that can either open or close based on the changes in blood pressure.
What are the valves in your heart ?
- There are two atrioventricular (AV) valves, the mitral valve (or the bicuspid valve), and the tricuspid valve, which are located between the upper chambers (atria) and the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart.
- There are two semilunar (SL) valves, the aortic valve and the pulmonary valve, which separate the heart and the arteries leaving the heart.
What is the aortic valve ?
The aortic valve separates the left ventricle from the aorta (the main blood vessel of the heart supplying oxygen and nutrients to the whole of the body). If there is a defect in the aortic valve, this could be a possible indication for aortic valve replacement. The defect in the aortic valve can be either congenital (from birth) or acquired. Acquired causes could be varied ranging from infection (rheumatic fever) to trauma.
What are the methods of fixing damaged aortic valves ?
There are two main methods.
- Heart Valve Repair and
- Heart Valve Replacement.
What is aortic valve repair surgery ?
In most of cases, aortic valve repair is an open surgery. What this means is that the surgeon will open your chest and heart to remove the damaged excess parts of the cusp of the valve and sew the edges together. It can also be repaired by tightening or shortening the cords that connect to the valve like making the door hinges work better. In case the valve is too enlarged, special prosthetic or annuloplasty rings can be inserted to narrow the valve and reinforce it. In case the valve is too narrow, the method to open it is by “balloon valvotomy”. In this procedure, a specialized catheter with a balloon at its tip will be inserted into an artery either in the arm or groin. Once it reaches the valve, the balloon is inflated; the valve is expanded and then both catheter and balloon are removed also via the same route. The advantage of this procedure is that the persons own valvular tissues are used for repair (not external or synthetic valves as is used in heart valve replacement). The surgical procedure is performed under the influence of general anesthesia mostly and requires a dedicated change in lifestyle and rehabilitative exercises to help recover full heart function. Your cardiologist will choose the best procedure to treat you based on your condition.
What is aortic valve replacement surgery ?
Only when the aortic valve cannot be surgically repaired, it is replaced. In surgical repair, the
person’s own heart valve is used, whilst in replacement, an external heart valve (from an outside
source) is used. Your cardiologist will choose the best procedure to treat you based on your
condition.
What are the types of heart valves used in aortic valve replacement surgery ?
Several types of heart valves may be used. These include biological tissue valves and mechanical tissue valves. Biological tissue valves are either obtained from animals (cows or pigs) or from humans. Mechanical tissue valves are derived from synthetic materials.
What is the procedure for aortic valve replacement surgery ?
The surgical procedure is performed under the influence of general anesthesia mostly. In a majority of cases, aortic valve replacement is an open surgery. What this means is that the surgeon will open your chest and heart in order to remove the damaged valve. Then, the new artificial (or prosthetic) valve is sewn into place.
How is aortic valve repair different from aortic valve replacement surgery ?
In surgical repair, the person’s own heart valve is used, whilst in replacement, an external heart valve (from an outside source) is used. In repair, the surgeon will open your chest and heart in order to remove the damaged excess parts of the cusp of the valve and sew the edges together or tighten and shorten the cords that connect
to the valve similar to making the door hinges work better. In case the valve is too enlarged, special prosthetic or annuloplasty rings can be inserted to narrow the valve and reinforce it.
What is the care to be taken after aortic valve replacement surgery ?
It requires a dedicated change in lifestyle and rehabilitative exercises to help recover full heart function. You will have to be put on anti-clotting therapy post surgery, in order to avoid clots forming on the new valve.
How to find and reach heart surgeons for aortic valve replacement surgery ?
Now you can find and reach heart surgeons from different hospitals and destinations on a single platform, Hinfoways. You can avail opinions and information from multiple heart surgeons, get cost estimates for aortic valve replacement surgery from different heart hospitals, compare things and then choose a heart surgeon for aortic valve replacement surgery.
Find, reach and choose a heart surgeon for aortic valve replacement surgery on Hinfoways. Make an informed choice.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
