An operation to repair or replace one of the four valves in the heart. In the normally functioning heart, the flaps of each of the four valves—pulmonary, mitral, aortic, and tricuspid— allow blood to flow in only one direction as it travels to and from the lungs and to and from the body. Stenosis (narrowing) of a valve limits normal blood flow, while regurgitation (leaking) lets blood flow in the wrong direction. Left untreated, severe valve problems can lead to life-threatening disease, such as heart failure.
A heart valve correction or replacement surgery is performed to address heart valve defects or remove a diseased or damaged valve. The surgery may involve repairing, widening, or replacing the valve, depending on whether it is incompetent (leaky), stenotic (narrowed), or both. Valve widening can be achieved through valvotomy or valvuloplasty techniques. In cases of a damaged valve, it can be replaced with either a mechanical valve made from metal and plastic, a valve made from human tissue, a pig valve, or a valve obtained from a deceased human donor. The surgery is typically performed using a heart-lung machine during valve replacement.
Following heart-valve surgery, individuals may experience breathlessness for several weeks, necessitating ongoing medication. Some patients might require long-term treatment with anticoagulant drugs to prevent the formation of blood clots around the newly implanted valve. It is important to note that certain types of replacement valves, such as mechanical valves, carry a higher risk of clot formation compared to other valve types.