Valve Replacement
& Repair Surgery

Comprehensive repair and replacement services for aortic, mitral, and other valvular heart diseases using advanced surgical and keyhole techniques.

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About Valve Surgery

Valve repair or replacement surgery restores correct, one-way blood flow through the heart. The procedure primarily targets the Mitral and Aortic valves, correcting narrowing (stenosis) or leakage (regurgitation) that can cause heart failure.

Why It Is Recommended

Corrective surgery is essential when a diseased heart valve compromises heart health:

Severe aortic or mitral narrowing restricting blood output
Significant backflow (leakage) straining the chambers
Prevention of congestive heart failure and cardiomegaly
Relief from worsening fatigue and breathing issues

Treatment Benefits

Restores proper circulatory dynamics
Reduces symptoms of breathlessness and fatigue
Protects the heart muscle from irreversible enlargement
Minimally invasive options offer minimal scarring
Ensures long-term survival and healthy life expectancy

Mitral & Aortic Valves

The left-sided heart valves handle the highest pressures. The **Mitral Valve** regulates blood flowing into the main pump chamber (left ventricle), while the **Aortic Valve** regulates oxygenated blood pumping out to the body. Due to high workloads, these two valves are most susceptible to disease.

Surgical Scope

Whenever possible, Dr. Amjad prioritizes **valve repair** over replacement, as keeping your natural tissues reduces infection risk and avoids long-term blood thinner requirements. If damage is severe, **replacement** is safely performed using premium mechanical or tissue valves.

Recognizing Heart Valve Disease

Symptoms can develop gradually, or manifest as a sudden drop in cardiac output and stamina.

Severe Breathlessness

Particularly during simple tasks like walking or climbing stairs (dyspnea on exertion), which eventually progresses to breathing difficulty even while resting.

Fatigue & Constant Weakness

Due to the valve obstruction or leakage, less oxygenated blood reaches the body muscles, causing chronic tiredness, dizziness, and low energy.

Ankle/Foot Swelling

Fluid retention (pedal edema) in the legs, ankles, or abdomen, indicating the failing heart is struggling to pump blood forward.

Chest Discomfort & Flutter

A sensation of pressure or pain in the chest, or a rapid, fluttering heartbeat (palpitations) caused by irregular cardiac rhythms.

Gold Standard Diagnosis: 2D Echo with Doppler

Diagnosis begins with hearing a heart murmur on auscultation. To measure the exact severity of narrowing (stenosis) or backflow (regurgitation), a **2D Echocardiography (heart ultrasound) with Doppler study** is performed. It acts as the definitive roadmap for choosing between repair, replacement, or clinical monitoring.

Choosing the Right Valve Type

If a valve cannot be repaired, it must be replaced. We assist you in selecting the option that best fits your lifestyle:

Mechanical Valves (Metallic)

Made of durable carbon and metal. They last **permanently (lifetime)** but require daily blood-thinning pills (Acitrom/Warfarin) and regular PT/INR blood testing to prevent blood clots.

Bioprosthetic Valves (Tissue)

Made from natural biological tissues. They **do not require long-term blood thinners**, offering a more flexible diet and lifestyle. However, they last about **12 to 15 years** and may need eventual redo replacement.

Surgical Timeline & Recovery

Pre-Operative Preparation

Detailed blood investigations, 2D Echo, and chest X-rays. Crucially, blood thinners are stopped **4 days prior** to surgery. Minimum 6 hours of fasting is required.

The Valve Surgery

Performed under general anesthesia. Traditional access is via sternotomy. The heart is stopped, protected by cardioplegia, and the valve is repaired or replaced.

Days 1–7: Hospital Stay

Usually 3 days in the cardiac ICU followed by 3-4 days in a ward. Patients begin walking on the second day. Total hospital stay is 6 to 7 days.

Weeks 3–4: Resuming Activities

For open-heart surgery, patients return to desk work after 20 days and drive after 30 days. For minimally invasive approaches, normal work starts in **15 days**, driving in **20 days**.

Need a Second Opinion
Before Heart Surgery?

Share your angiography and reports with Dr. Amjad. He will review them personally and guide you with the best possible treatment options.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common clinical queries regarding mitral and aortic valve procedures.

It depends mostly on age. For patients under 60, we generally prefer a mechanical valve because of its lifelong durability. For patients over 60, tissue (bioprosthetic) valves are preferred because they do not require lifetime blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants). Young female patients planning pregnancy may also choose a tissue valve to avoid the risks of blood thinners during pregnancy.

Yes, traditional valve repair or replacement is an open-heart surgery because we need to stop the heart and open its chambers to access the valve. However, with minimally invasive valve surgery (keyhole incision) and catheter-based options like TAVI/TAVR, we can now repair or replace valves without opening the chest or breastbone in suitable candidates.

Yes, if you receive a mechanical valve, you must take oral blood thinners (like Acitrom or Warfarin) for the rest of your life to prevent clots from forming on the valve. You will also need regular blood tests (PT/INR) to monitor your dosage. Tissue valves usually require blood thinners for only 3 to 6 months post-surgery.

Mechanical valves are highly durable and are designed to last a lifetime (permanently). Tissue valves, made from animal tissues, are subject to gradual wear and tear and typically last about 12 to 15 years before they need to be replaced.

For standard open-heart surgery, patients spend 5 to 7 days in the hospital (including 3 days in the ICU). You can start walking the day after surgery, resume light desk work in 20 days, and drive after 1 month. With minimally invasive valve surgery, recovery is faster—patients can return to routine activities in 15 days and drive in 20 days.

Delaying valve surgery when it is clinically necessary can lead to permanent heart muscle damage, heart failure, irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), or even sudden cardiac death. Once a valve becomes severely diseased, surgical correction is the only definitive way to restore normal heart lifespan.

Valve Replacement & Repair Surgery