Aortic valve replacement

This is a kind of open-heart surgery to treat problems with the heart’s aortic valve. The aortic valve controls the flow of blood out from the heart to the rest of the body. A diseased or damaged aortic valve can interfere with blood flow and force the heart to work harder to send blood to the rest of the body. Aortic valve replacement can improve blood flow, reduce symptoms of heart valve disease and prolong life. Since an aortic valve conditions are a mechanical problem eventually requiring surgery to reduce symptoms and risk of complications.

This is a serious operation which usually takes between two to four hours.

Why should a patient undergo an aortic valve replacement surgery? The aortic valve opens and allows the blood to go from the heart into the aorta (the largest artery in the body). When the aortic valve closes, it keeps the blood from flowing back to the heart. This process goes on every minute, with every heartbeat.

If an aortic valve has problems, a doctor can recommend surgery. The problem could be genetic or has developed over time or has been caused by another heart condition, eg, heart infection. It could also have been caused by regurgitation, i.e., when the blood flows back into the heart. It can also occur due to senile degeneration and calcification of the valve.

An aortic valve problem can manifest itself through shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, fainting, etc. Not replacing the aortic valve can be life-threatening.