Aortic Valve Replacement

Aortic valve repair and aortic valve replacement are procedures that treat diseases affecting the aortic valve. There are 4 Valves in our heart including the Mitral, Tricuspid, Aortic and Pulmonic Valves.

The aortic valve is one of four valves that regulate blood flow through the heart. These valves keep blood flowing in the correct direction through the heart. The aortic valve separates the heart’s main pumping chamber (left ventricle) and the main artery that supplies oxygen-rich blood to your body (aorta). With each contraction of the ventricle, the aortic valve opens and allows blood to flow from the left ventricle into the aorta. When the ventricle relaxes, the aortic valve closes to prevent blood from flowing backward into the ventricle. When the aortic valve isn’t working properly, it can interfere with blood flow as well as force the heart to work harder to supply the necessary blood to the rest of your body.

In some people, aortic valve disease may not cause any signs or symptoms for many years, if at all. Others may experience shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, loss of consciousness, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), heart failure and sudden cardiac death.

Aortic valve repair or aortic valve replacement can treat aortic valve disease and help restore normal blood flow, reduce symptoms, prolong life and help preserve the function of heart muscle.

DESUN does a lot of high volume cardiac surgeries in Kolkata. Led by skilled doctors, the members of the team are excellent surgeons and anesthetists who are pioneers in the field of cardiac surgery.

DESUN has two whole cardiac care units dedicated to cardio-thoracic patients. Of the total number of operating theatres, 4 are dedicated to cardiac care for undertaking surgeries ranging from valve replacements to correction of congenital defects. Surgical expertise is backed by sophisticated post-operative care, which makes DESUN one of the best hospitals for high-risk cardiac surgeries.

DESUN has highly advanced steel modular operating theatres that are fully equipped with the latest state-of-the-art instrument for the convenience of the surgeons.

The aim is not just to prolong life, but also to ensure that all normal activities can be resumed as quickly as possible.

Aortic valve repair and AOV are procedures that treat diseases affecting the aortic valve. There are 4 Valves in our heart including the Mitral, Tricuspid, Aortic and Pulmonic Valves.

The aortic valve is one of four valves that regulate blood flow through the heart. These valves keep blood flowing in the correct direction through the heart. The aortic valve separates the heart’s main pumping chamber (left ventricle) and the main artery that supplies oxygen-rich blood to your body (aorta). With each contraction of the ventricle, the aortic valve opens and allows blood to flow from the left ventricle into the aorta. When the ventricle relaxes, the aortic valve closes to prevent blood from flowing backward into the ventricle. When the aortic valve isn’t working properly, it can interfere with blood flow as well as force the heart to work harder to supply the necessary blood to the rest of your body.

In some people, aortic valve disease may not cause any signs or symptoms for many years, if at all. Others may experience shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, loss of consciousness, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), heart failure and sudden cardiac death.

Aortic valve repair or AVR can treat aortic valve disease and help restore normal blood flow, reduce symptoms, prolong life and help preserve the function of heart muscle.

DESUN does a lot of high volume cardiac surgeries in Kolkata. Led by skilled doctors, the members of the team are excellent surgeons and anesthetists who are pioneers in the field of cardiac surgery.

DESUN has two whole cardiac care units dedicated to cardio-thoracic patients. Of the total number of operating theatres, 4 are dedicated to cardiac care for undertaking surgeries ranging from valve replacements to correction of congenital defects. Surgical expertise is backed by sophisticated post-operative care, which makes DESUN one of the best hospitals for high-risk cardiac surgeries.

DESUN has highly advanced steel modular operating theatres that are fully equipped with the latest state-of-the-art instrument for the convenience of the surgeons.

The aim is not just to prolong life, but also to ensure that all normal activities can be resumed as quickly as possible.

Aortic Valve disease occurs when the Aortic Valve does not work correctly. This can be caused by:

Aortic Valve Stenosis: These stiff, fused, thickened, inflexible valve leaflets lead to the narrowing of the aortic valve, which limits the blood flow. Aortic Valve Stenosis progresses when calcium is deposited on the valve leaflets, further limiting their mobility. Stenosis can occur in patients with either a tricuspid (3 leaflets) or a bicuspid (2 leaflets) aortic valve.

Aortic Valve Regurgitation (also called valvular insufficiency, incompetence or “leaky valve”): These valve leaflets do not close completely. Regurgitation causes the blood that is ejected by the heart to immediately flow back into the heart once the heart stops squeezing and relaxes. Regurgitation may occur because of

Floppy leaflets (prolapsed),
Abnormal congenitally deformed valves (bicuspid or unicuspid),
Infection of the valve (endocarditis),
Inability of the leaflets to close tightly due to dilatation of the aorta (aneurysm),
Holes in the leaflets, or
Rheumatic valve disease.
Initial symptoms of Aortic Valve Disease usually include:

Fatigue
Easy tiring
Loss of energy
Swelling of the ankles
Palpitations (extra or skipped heart beats)
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Dizziness or loss of consciousness

The decision to repair or replace a damaged aortic valve(AVR) depends on many factors including:

Severity of aortic valve disease
Age and overall health
Situations where another heart surgery to correct another heart problem in addition to aortic valve disease, such as heart bypass surgery to treat coronary artery disease is needed, so that both conditions are treated at once.
In general, heart valve repair is usually the first choice because it’s associated with

A lower risk of infection
Preserves valve strength and function
Reduces the need to take blood-thinning medications
For example, people with a hole in the valve’s closure flaps (perforated valve leaflet) may be candidates for aortic valve repair rather than replacement(AVR), depending on the severity of their condition.

Not all valves can be repaired, however, heart valve repair surgery is often harder to do than valve replacement. Solutions depend on individual situations as well as the expertise and experience of the team of physicians.

Aortic valve repair and aortic valve replacement may be performed through traditional open-heart surgery, which involves a cut (incision) in the chest, or through minimally invasive methods that involve smaller incisions in the chest or a catheter inserted in the leg or chest (transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR).

Minimally invasive heart surgery may involve a shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery and less pain than traditional open-heart surgery. Minimally invasive heart surgeries are performed by a multidisciplinary heart team.

What type of procedure depends on the patient’s situation, and the doctor will explain the benefits and risks of each option. For example, some people with aortic valve disease may not be candidates for traditional open-heart surgery due to other health problems, such as lung or kidney disease, that would make the procedure too risky.

Many people with aortic valve disease also have coronary artery disease and may need heart bypass surgery to improve blood flow. Heart bypass surgery is normally performed through traditional open-heart surgery, therefore the aortic valve procedure would be performed the same way.

In this procedure, the doctor removes the aortic valve and replaces it with a mechanical valve or a valve made from cow, pig or human heart tissue. Another type of biological tissue valve replacement that uses a patient’s own pulmonary valve is sometimes possible.

Often biological tissue valves eventually need to be replaced, as they degenerate over time. If you have a mechanical valve, you’ll need to take blood-thinning medications for the rest of your life to prevent blood clots. Doctors will discuss with you the risks and benefits of each type of valve and discuss which valve may be appropriate for you.

Aortic valve replacement surgery may be performed through traditional open-heart surgery or minimally invasive methods, which involve smaller incisions than those used in open-heart surgery.

Usually, minimally invasive aortic valve replacement(AVR) is less common because not all situations are best addressed by this method of access to the damaged valve. When performed by experienced surgeons and centers, the results are similar to those with traditional open-heart surgery.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is another type of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement that has a nonsurgical approach. It is also sometimes called transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

During TAVR, the surgeon may access the heart through a blood vessel in the leg or a small incision in the chest. A hollow tube (catheter) is guided through the veins to the aortic valve. Once it is positioned correctly, a balloon-expandable or self-expandable replacement aortic valve is inserted.

TAVR may be an option for people who are considered to be at intermediate or high risk of complications from surgical aortic valve replacement.

TAVR may also be an option if patient has an existing biological tissue valve that was previously inserted to replace the aortic valve, but it isn’t functioning well anymore. Having a CRT device should improve symptoms caused by slow heartbeat, such as fatigue, lightheadedness and fainting. Life could be longer, more productive, happier and healthier with the device implantation.

After the procedure, patients stay for a day or more in the intensive care unit (ICU) and then shifted to a regular hospital room for several days. This can vary, from person to person.

During the hospital stay, the patient is monitored for:

Signs of infection in the incision sites
Blood pressure, breathing and heart rate
Post surgical pain and help manage the same
Mobility by assisting patients to help resume basic movements & do breathing exercises
On discharge the doctor’s instructions must be followed for recovery. Recovery time depends on the procedure, overall health before the procedure and any complications. Patients may be advised to avoid driving a car or lifting anything more than 10 pounds for several weeks.

Initial symptoms of Aortic Valve disease usually include:

Fatigue
Easy tiring
Loss of energy
Swelling of the ankles
Palpitations (extra or skipped heart beats)

More Symptoms are:
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Dizziness or loss of consciousness

BY CASH OR CREDIT / DEBIT CARD.