Heart Valve Surgery
Heart valve surgery is a medical procedure used to repair or replace one of the four valves in your heart. These valves act like one-way gates, ensuring blood flows in the correct direction through the heart’s chambers. When a valve becomes damaged or diseased, it may not open or close properly, affecting how efficiently the heart pumps blood.
Depending on the valve affected and the nature of the problem, heart valve surgery can be performed either as open-heart surgery or through minimally invasive techniques. Your doctor will recommend the most appropriate approach based on your condition.
What does it do?
The heart’s valves control blood flow, opening and closing in sync with each heartbeat. If a valve becomes:
- Narrowed (stenosis) – blood flow is restricted
- Leaky (regurgitation) – blood flows backward
This puts extra strain on the heart, potentially leading to symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue, and fluid retention, and in severe cases, heart failure. Heart valve surgery restores the valve’s normal function, allowing the heart to pump more effectively and relieving symptoms.
How does it work?
The surgery involves either repairing or replacing the faulty valve:
- Valve Repair:
May include:
- Removing excess tissue
- Reshaping the valve
- Reinforcing it with a ring (annuloplasty)
- Inserting artificial cords to support valve leaflets
- Removing excess tissue
- Valve Replacement:
Required if the valve is too damaged to repair. The valve may be replaced with:
- A mechanical valve (metal or carbon)
- A biological valve (made from pig, cow, or human tissue)
- A mechanical valve (metal or carbon)
Both procedures aim to restore proper blood flow and prevent further deterioration of heart function
Why is it performed?
Heart valve surgery is performed when one or more valves fail to function properly. This may be due to:
- Congenital defects (present from birth)
- Age-related degeneration
- Infections, such as endocarditis
- Rheumatic heart disease
The surgery helps alleviate symptoms and prevent complications. Common symptoms include:
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Chest pain or tightness
- Shortness of breath
- Palpitations
- Swelling in the feet, ankles, or abdomen
Rapid weight gain
The procedure
Heart valve surgery is most commonly done as open-heart surgery, but minimally invasive or keyhole techniques may be used in select cases.
Typical steps include:
- General anaesthesia is administered
- You’ll be connected to a heart-lung bypass machine
- A chest incision is made (location depends on the valve being treated)
- For replacement, the new valve is sewn into the preserved rim of tissue from the original valve
- For repair, various techniques are used depending on the condition
- The chest is closed with surgical wires and stitches
Recovery
Following surgery:
- You will stay in hospital for monitoring and early recovery
- A personalised rehabilitation plan will be provided, including physiotherapy and mobility guidance
- You may be advised to join a cardiac rehabilitation program to support long-term recovery
- Your medical team will guide you on medications, wound care, and activity levels at home
Recovery time varies by patient, but many resume normal activities within several weeks with proper support and follow-up care.