What is Heart Valve Replacement?
Heart valve surgery is needed when a heart valve doesn’t work right. A valve may not open all the way. Or, a valve may have problems closing. If this happens, blood doesn’t move through the heart’s chambers the way it should. If a valve doesn’t open all the way, less blood moves through to the next chamber. If a valve doesn’t close tightly, blood may leak backward. These problems may mean that the heart must work harder to pump the same amount of blood. Or, blood may back up in the lungs or body because it’s not moving through the heart as it should. During heart valve replacement, one or more valves are replaced. Thus there are several different types of heart valve replacement procedures, such as aortic valve replacement, mitral valve replacement, and others. Repair means that the valve is mended to help it work better. Replacement means your diseased valve is removed and a new valve is inserted in its place. Whether a valve will be repaired or replaced can only be decided once surgery has begun.