You might need heart valve surgery if you have heart valve disease that is affecting your heart's ability to pump blood.

Types of Replacement Valves

Mechanical and biologic valves are used to replace faulty valves. Mechanical valves are artificial components that have the same purpose as a natural heart valve. They’re created from carbon and polyester materials that the human body tolerates well. If you receive a mechanical heart valve, you’ll need to take blood thinners for the rest of your life to keep the mechanical valve functioning properly.

Biologic valves, also called bioprosthetic valves, are created mostly from animal tissue. Biologic valves don’t increase your risk of developing blood clots. This means you most likely won’t need to commit to a lifetime of anti-clotting medication. A bioprosthetic doesn’t last as long as a mechanical valve and may require replacement at a future date.

Your doctor will recommend which type of heart valve you get based on:

Types of Valve Replacement Surgery

Aortic Valve Replacement

The aortic valve is on the left side of the heart and serves as an outflow valve. Its job is to allow blood to leave the left ventricle, which is the heart’s main pumping chamber. Its job is also to close so that blood doesn’t leak back into the left ventricle. You may need surgery on your aortic valve if you have a congenital defect or disease that causes stenosis or regurgitation.

The most common type of congenital abnormality is a bicuspid valve. Normally, the aortic valve has three sections of tissue, known as cusps. This is called a tricuspid valve. A defective valve has only two leaflets, so it’s called a bicuspid valve. In older age the most common disease affecting the aortic valve is degenerative disease.

Mitral Valve Replacement

The mitral valve is located on the left side of the heart. It serves as an inflow valve. Its job is to allow blood from the left atrium to flow into the left ventricle. Surgery may be required if the valve doesn’t fully open or completely close. When the valve is too narrow, it can make it difficult for blood to enter. This can cause it to back up, causing pressure in the lungs. When the valve doesn’t close properly, blood can leak back into the lungs. This can be due to a congenital defect, infection, or a degenerative disease.

The defective valve will be replaced with either a metal artificial valve or a biological valve. The metal valve will last a lifetime but requires you to take blood thinners. The biological valve lasts between 15 to 20 years, and you won’t be required to take medication that thins your blood.

Double Valve Replacement

A double valve replacement is a replacement of both the mitral and the aortic valve, or the entire left side of the heart. This type of surgery is not as common as the others and the overall risk is slightly higher.

The Procedure

Heart valve replacement surgery is performed under general anaesthesia with techniques that are either conventional or minimally invasive. For a surgeon to successfully remove the diseased valve and replace it with a new one, your heart must be still. You’ll be placed on a bypass machine that keeps blood circulating through your body and your lungs functioning during surgery.

Recovery

The majority of heart valve replacement recipients remain in the hospital for approximately five to seven days. Medical staff will offer pain medication as needed and continuously monitor your blood pressure, breathing, and heart function during the first few days after a heart valve replacement. Full recovery may take a few weeks, depending on your rate of healing and the type of surgery that was performed.