Heart Valve Surgery

If you’re having heart valve surgery, that means one or more of the valves in your heart isn’t working the way it’s supposed to. So your doctor has decided to repair or replace the problem valve.

For your heart to do its job, all four valves need to be in good working order. They need to be flexible, they need to open all the way, and they need to close tightly.

If one of your valves is not working the way it’s supposed to, it makes your heart work too hard, and that can lead to problems. In some cases, your heart surgeon may be able to repair a heart valve.

A heart valve repair operation may involve sewing to repair a tear on the valve tissue, removing calcium deposits from around the valve, and/or placing a ring around the door frame of your valve to reshape it and provide extra support. If you need a new valve, your heart surgeon will remove the damaged one and replace it with a new valve.

Once your doctor repairs or replaces your heart valve, blood will flow through your heart the way it’s supposed to, and you should feel better.

You and your doctor will talk about what kind of valve is right for you.