When is a heart valve replacement surgery necessary?

Hello,

Heart valve replacement is a procedure used when a heart valve is severely damaged or diseased and is not working properly. The heart has four valves, and problems with valves can make it difficult for the heart to pump blood normally.

When Is Valve Replacement Needed?

A cardiologist recommend valve replacement when a valve is :

• Severely narrowed, called valve stenosis
• Severely leaking, called valve regurgitation
• Damaged because of infection or another heart condition
• Causing symptoms such as breathlessness, chest discomfort, tiredness, dizziness, or swelling in the legs
• Affecting the heart's pumping function

Not every valve problem requires replacement. Some patients can be treated with medicines, monitoring, or valve repair.

How Is the Valve Replaced?

There are two main types of replacement valves :

• Mechanical valve: Usually lasts for a very long time, but patients generally need lifelong blood-thinning medicine.
  
  
• Tissue valve: Made from animal or human tissue. Typically lasts around 10-20 years, so it may not last as long as a mechanical valve, but long-term blood-thinning treatment may not always be required.

Age is generally the main factor guiding this choice. Mechanical valves are usually favored in younger patients, since their durability outlasts a tissue valve's typical lifespan. Tissue valves are usually favored from around age 60 onward, since patients are less likely to outlive the valve and it avoids the ongoing bleeding risk of lifelong blood thinners. The cardiologist will weigh this alongside the patient's overall health, lifestyle, and ability to manage regular anticoagulation monitoring.

The procedure can be performed through open-heart surgery in suitable patients. For some patients most commonly for aortic valve stenosis specifically  a less invasive procedure such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may be possible, depending on the valve involved and the patient's overall health.

What Should the Patient Do?

The patient should first have an evaluation by a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon. Tests such as an echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, blood tests, and sometimes other heart scans may be required to determine whether replacement is necessary and which procedure is most appropriate.

If you share the patient's age, the affected valve (such as aortic or mitral), and the main symptoms, We can also explain what type of valve replacement is commonly considered.

Wishing you and your family good health always.
Warm regards,
Team HexaHealth