Heart valve surgery in India

Heart Valve surgery is a procedure that repairs or replaces one or more of the four valves of heart. These valves, situated between the four chambers of heart, ensure that blood flows in the correct direction. They function like doors that open and close with each heartbeat, allowing blood to move in and out of the chambers. When the valves are functioning properly, blood should flow through heart in a single direction with every heartbeat.

The four heart valves are:

• Tricuspid located between the right upper and lower chambers.
• Pulmonary found between the right ventricle (lower chamber) and the pulmonary artery.
• Mitral situated between the left upper and lower chambers.
• Aortic positioned between the left ventricle (lower chamber) and the aorta.

Sometimes, blood may flow back into the chamber it just left. In other cases, a valve may become narrowed, which can hinder blood from moving forward. This is problematic because it prevents heart from functioning efficiently. While heart valve surgery might seem intimidating, it ultimately helps the heart perform better.

Types of heart valve surgery :

• Surgical Valve Repair This traditional method involves open-heart surgery, where a large incision is made in the chest. The surgeon may perform various techniques based on the specific valve issue:
  • Commissurotomy Used for tight valves, where flaps are cut to improve blood flow.
  • Annuloplasty For leaky valves, this involves tightening the ring around the valve.
  • Valvulotomy To enlarge narrowed valves, sometimes using a balloon technique1
• Valve Replacement If repair isn’t feasible, the damaged valve may be replaced with either:
  • Mechanical Valves Made from durable materials like carbon-coated plastic.
  • Biological Valves Sourced from animal or human tissues.
  • Valvulotomy To enlarge narrowed valves, sometimes using a balloon technique.
• Minimally Invasive Procedures Newer techniques have emerged that require smaller incisions and often result in quicker recovery times. One notable method is:
  • Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) This procedure involves inserting a new valve via a catheter, typically through the groin or chest, without stopping the heart