What is Aortic Valve Surgery?
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is Aortic Valve Surgery?
Aortic Valve Surgery is a type of procedure performed by the heart surgeon. It is a repair or replacement surgery of the aortic valve. The aortic valve is one of the four valves in the heart. The aortic valve is situated between the left ventricle (lower left side of the heart which is a pumping chamber) and the aorta (the largest artery in the body). The function of the aortic valve is to maintain the blood flow out from the heart to the other parts of the body.
In this article, we will be explaining in detail aortic valve surgery.
- What are the causes for Aortic Valve Surgery?
- What are the symptoms for Aortic Valve Diseases?
- What are the diagnostic tests done before an Aortic Valve Surgery?
- What are the steps done before an Aortic Valve Surgery?
- What is the procedure of Aortic Valve Surgery?
- What are the steps done after an Aortic Valve Surgery?
- What are the risks of Aortic Valve Surgery?
- What is the cost of Aortic Valve Surgery in India?
What are the causes for Aortic Valve Surgery?
The aortic valve surgery is performed in cases of:
- Aortic regurgitation – A condition when the valve does not close properly and there is a backflow of blood.
- Aortic stenosis – It is seen when the valve does not open properly for the outflow of blood.
- Bicuspid valves – A condition that develops when the aortic valve has two cusps or flaps instead of three.
- Other congenital aortic valve diseases – These are aortic valve diseases that are present from birth. ( Know more about- What are the causes of Cardiomyopathy? )
What are the symptoms of Aortic Valve Diseases?
Aortic Valve surgery may be performed when the patient has the following symptoms of aortic valve diseases:
- Chest pain
- Tightness around chest
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue with increased activity
- Dizziness (Read more about – Home remedies for dizziness )
- Loss of consciousness
- Palpitations (skipped or extra/rapid heartbeats)
- Weight gain due to retention of fluid
- Swelling (edema) of the feet, abdomen, or ankles
What are the diagnostic tests done before an Aortic Valve Surgery?
The following diagnostic tests may be required before aortic valve surgery-
- Electrocardiogram or ECG– This is done to check the rhythm and electrical activity of the heart.
- Echocardiogram– This test gives the images of the heart using the sound waves that are captured. This helps the doctor to analyse the heart disease.
- Chest X-ray– This helps to identify the lung related problems that are caused due to various heart diseases.
- Blood tests– Tests like- Cholesterol levels, C- reactive protein levels, Lipid profile, Troponin T test, etc. are done to check the heart condition by the doctor.
- Urine tests– This is done to check the levels of some proteins that help to detect the condition of the heart.
- Cardiac catheterization– This is an imaging procedure where a catheter ( long thin tube ) is inserted through the blood vessels of the leg, neck, etc. This helps the doctor diagnose and evaluate the heart’s condition like valvular heart diseases, coronary artery diseases, etc. ( Know more about- What is Heart Attack ? )
- Other tests- Exercise stress test, MRI, CT scan
What are the steps done before an Aortic Valve Surgery?
The steps need to be done before the Aortic Valve Surgery includes-
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or could be pregnant before the surgery.
- Inform your doctor of any medications, drugs, or supplements that you may be taking.
- Inform your doctor of any illnesses such as a common cold that you may have a day before the surgery.
- Stop smoking for at least two weeks before the surgery to prevent bleeding or any breathing problems during the surgery.
- The doctor may recommend stopping certain medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, and blood-thinning medications like warfarin or clopidogrel a couple of days before the surgery. These medications may cause an increase in bleeding during surgery. However, stopping any medications that you may be taking regularly should only be done after a consultation with your doctor.
- The doctor may prescribe some antibiotics before the surgery to prevent the chances of infection.
- The doctor may ask you to wash (especially the chest area) thoroughly the night before the surgery using a special soap that kills germs.
- The doctor may advise avoiding food and drinks after midnight the night before the surgery.
What is the procedure of Aortic Valve Surgery?
Aortic Valve Surgery may involve either the repair or the complete replacement of the aortic valve. The condition of the heart, the diagnostic tests performed, the age of the patient, and the existence of any other medical conditions will determine whether aortic valve repair or replacement is the correct treatment option for a particular patient. ( Know more about- What is Coronary Angiography? )
Aortic Valve Surgery is carried out using general anesthesia which minimizes the pain during the procedure.
Aortic Valve Surgery can be performed by the following methods:
Traditional Open-Heart Surgery:
This is the most common type of Aortic Valve Surgery and takes about 2 to 4 hours to complete. It is performed in the following way-
- A 6 to 8-inch incision is made in the chest region.
- This incision splits open the patient’s breastbone.
- This procedure stops the heart of the patient, and a heart-lung (bypass) machine takes over the function of pumping blood during this time. ( Know more about – Heart Bypass Surgery )
- The surgeon then repairs or replaces the damaged heart valve.
- In case of a replacement of the aortic valve, an artificial valve that is either mechanical or made of animal tissue is placed inside.
- The surgeon then restarts the patient’s heart function and closes the chest of the patient.
Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Surgery:
This is a type of Aortic Valve Repair Surgery and it is done in the following way-
- Small incisions of 2 to 4 inches are made without opening the whole chest.
- The incision is usually J-shaped and keeps the chest region stable.
- The surgeon then carries out the procedure of aortic valve repair.
- This type of surgery has an advantage over open-heart surgery since it causes less trauma, less blood loss, lesser pain, and has a quicker recovery period.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure:
In this process, a thin tube runs up from a small opening in the leg to the heart. This tube is used by the surgeon for the placement of a new valve.
What are the steps done after Aortic Valve Surgery?
After surgery, the patient is shifted to the recovery room, where a team of doctors and nurses regularly monitor the patient. The patient is kept in the hospital for 7 to 8 days following surgery and is then allowed to go home according to their condition.
Apart from this, the following after-care is required post-surgery so that the patient recovers quickly-
- Two to three tubes may be attached to your chest to drain the fluid from the chest around the heart region. These tubes are usually removed 1 to 3 days after the surgery.
- A catheter (which is a flexible tube) may be placed in the bladder to drain out the urine.
- The patient’s vital signs (that is heart rate, pulse, temperature, and breathing rate) are monitored regularly.
- Blood tests and ECGs are done regularly to check the heart function till the time of discharge.
- The patient may be given a temporary pacemaker if the heart rhythm is very slow post-surgery.
- Regular follow-up is advised to the patient.
- The patient is instructed to avoid strenuous exercise or physical exertion.
- The doctor will provide certain bathing instructions once home to keep the surgical area dry and clean.
- Driving should be avoided till the doctor permits for the same.
- It takes about 6 to 8 weeks for the patient’s breastbone to heal, but it may take up to 3 months for the patient to recover completely and get back to normal.
- A patient having a desk job can return to work 6 to 8 weeks after the surgery. However, if the work requires more physical activity, then the patient could take up to 3 months before returning to work.
- If any serious health problem arises, contact your doctor immediately.
What are the risks of Aortic Valve Surgery?
There are some risks involved in aortic valve surgery, which include-
- Allergic reaction to medicines
- Trouble in breathing
- Irregular or rapid pulse
- Fever
- Chills
- Bleeding, swelling, or redness at the incision site or the site of catheter insertion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Swelling in legs or abdomen region
- Pain in the incision area
- Infection
- Injury to the heart or surrounding structures
- Blood clots are seen in the legs that may travel to the lungs
- Weakness in the legs and arms
- Heart attacks ( Know more about- What are the treatments of the Cardiac arrest ? )
- Brain stroke
- Arrhythmias ( irregular heartbeats )
- Kidney failure ( Know more about – What is Kidney Transplant? )
One should contact the doctor immediately in case any of these symptoms are noticed post-surgery.
What is the cost of Aortic Valve Surgery in India?
The total cost of aortic valve surgery in India can range from around INR 3,30,000 to INR 5,30,000. However, there are many large hospitals and experienced doctors in India who perform aortic valve surgery. But the cost of aortic valve surgery may vary across different hospitals.
If you are coming from abroad, apart from the cost of aortic valve surgery, there will be a cost of staying in a hotel, cost of living, and cost of local travel. Apart from this, after the procedure, the patient stays in the hospital for 8 days and in the hotel for 10 days for recovery. So, the total cost of aortic valve surgery will be around INR 4,90,000 to INR 6,00,000.
We hope that we could answer your questions regarding aortic valve surgery through this article.
If you need more information about aortic valve surgery, you can contact a Cardiologist/ Heart Surgeon.
We only aim to give you information through this article and do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a qualified doctor can give you good advice and a treatment plan.
