The aortic valve is located in the aorta. Its task is to pass blood from the heart into the systemic circulation, then close the leaflets and prevent it from returning while the heart is relaxed. Sometimes the leaflets do not completely close the lumen of the aorta, and this condition is called aortic valve insufficiency (AVI). It also happens that the opening of the heart valve is very narrow, and it is difficult for blood to pass into the aorta. In this case, heart valve stenosis is diagnosed. Both conditions require surgical treatment. Since aortic valve reconstruction does not provide a stable therapeutic result, aortic valve replacement surgery is considered the main treatment for severe defects.
Content
- How is aortic valve surgery performed?
- Where to have your aortic valve surgery?
This is open-heart surgery using a heart-lung machine. During the operation, doctors implant an artificial aortic valve for a patient. They can implant mechanical or biological prostheses. When necessary, other heart valves can be treated in a single stage (heart valve repair or replacement surgery).
You can seek medical attention at the University Hospital Essen, the University Hospital Oldenburg, or the University Hospital Ulm.
You are welcome to use the services of the Booking Health company. We will take care of all the arrangements for your trip abroad. When you choose a program through our service, you will save money due to the absence of high taxes for foreign patients. Our employees will help you choose a clinic, prepare the necessary documents, and translate your diagnostic results, medical records, and epicrises into English or German. We will meet you at the airport abroad and take you to the clinic by car. After the completion of your treatment, we will take care of your return transfer.
How is aortic valve surgery performed?
Aortic valve repair is open-heart surgery. It is performed under general anesthesia using a heart-lung machine.
During surgery, cardiosurgery doctors implant a new artificial heart valve inside the aorta. It can be mechanical or biological.
Mechanical heart valves are rarely implanted, as they require lifelong anticoagulation due to the high risk of blood clots. Such prostheses are typically used in young patients due to their nearly infinite service life.
Basically, doctors implant biological valves. Their service life is 10-15 years, after which repeated heart valve replacement surgery is required. But it is not necessary to have open surgery again, as a new artificial heart valve can be delivered to the heart from inside the blood vessels through an incision in the groin and implanted over the old prosthesis. This repeated prosthetic technique is called "valve-in-valve". The procedure is non-traumatic, and the recovery time for patients is minimal.
Artificial biological heart valves provide the best parameters for blood circulation. Patients take anticoagulants not for life but for three months after surgery.
Where to have your aortic valve surgery?
On the Booking Health website, you can choose reputable hospitals with cardiosurgery departments to undergo a surgical procedure efficiently and safely. On our website, you can see the best cardiosurgery departments abroad, find out the surgical treatment cost, and choose your medical care program at the best price.
The specialists at the Booking Health company will help you select the most suitable clinics that treat heart valve disease with high success rates. We will take care of organizing your trip abroad, relieving you of unnecessary worries so that you can fully focus on restoring your health.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Sources:
ECR - European Cardiology Review
American College of Cardiology
Healthline