Heart valves of the heart allow blood to go forward but not leak backwards. This is important because when the heart pumps, it pushes blood forward to the body where it is needed. The valves of the heart make sure this oxygen-rich blood can’t leak backwards into the heart which is one of the main functions of the hear t and is important for our good health and survival.

Indications of Heart Valve Surgery:

What can go wrong with these valves…

1) Leakiness of Heart Valves

The valves of the heart are there to stop blood leaking backward, allowing blood to go forward where it is needed. In Leakiness of heart valves is known as regurgitation, blood goes backwrads Common seen  is mitral regurgitation.(dysfuction of mitral valve)

2) Tightening of Heart Valves

Heart valves allow blood to go forward but not leak backwards. When the valves become too tight it is known as stenosis. For example, tightness of the aortic valve is known as aortic stenosis

Purpose of Valve Surgery:

Heart valve surgery fixes a damaged or faulty heart valve. There are two main types of heart valve surgeries: valve repair and valve replacement. Double valve surgery is a surgery where two valves are involved.

Valve Repair  Surgery:

Sometimes a faulty valve can be repaired by cutting away excess tissue in the cusps of the valve and sewing the edges together. It can be repaired by shortening or connecting the cords that act like hinges on the valve. Special rings called ‘prosthetic rings’ or ‘annuloplasty rings’ can also be used to narrow an enlarged valve and strengthen the repair. Another method used to open a narrowed valve is called ‘balloon valvotomy’.

Valve Replacement Surgery:

In the valve replacements, the new valve is sewn onto a rim of tissue that is kept from the original valve. Several types of replacement valves are used. These are either biological tissue valves or mechanical valves.

An advantage of valve repair operations is that usually your own valve tissues are used in the repair. If a valve can’t be repaired, it is sometimes removed and replaced with a new valve.

This varies depending on your condition and your response to surgery. On average, after heart valve surgery, people stay in hospital for six to nine days.

These surgeries usually take around 4 to 6 hours. The surgery is performed in the special operation theatres designed for heart surgeries with appropriate infrastructure.