Aortic Valve Replacement

The aortic valve is the main valve between the heart and the blood vessels leading to the rest of the body. The valve prevents blood from flowing backwards into the heart. With time, wear and tear on this valve can cause it to become scarred preventing it from opening (Aortic Valve Stenosis) or cause it to leak (Aortic Valve Regurgitation). A small number of patients have valve problems that run in families. Failure of the valve can cause symptoms of heart failure and eventually death.

When failure of the valve becomes severe, the heart team will recommend replacement of the valve. This is most commonly done with open heart surgery. Surgeons will enter the chest through the breast bone to expose the heart. The failing valve is removed by making a cut in the blood vessel on top of the heart. It is replaced with a valve made from animal tissue or metal. Although open surgery is the preferable method for most patients, minimally invasive options are available for patients with special risk factors or for those who are high risk for open surgery.