Aortic Stenosis Diagram
Normal vs. Stenotic Heart Valve

Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery

As I personally experienced, an aortic valve replacement is a complex, surgical procedure to implant a mechanical or biological heart valve in exchange for a damaged aortic valve within the human heart muscle.

There are a number of heart valve defects which stimulate the need for aortic valve replacement. However, the two most common reasons why patients need to replace their aortic valve are (i) blood flow is constricted across a narrowed heart valve (aortic stenosis) or (ii) blood flow is leaking back into heart (aortic regurgitation).

As a result of severe stenosis or regurgitation, the aortic valve must be replaced. Otherwise, future heart complications (enlarged heart muscle) can occur due to the strain on the cardiac muscle.

Aortic valve replacement surgery may also be needed if the heart valve leaflets have become damaged due to aortic valve calcification, a congenital bicuspid aortic valve, or other forms of aortic valve disease.

Prior to aortic valve replacement surgery, the patient, along with his / her family and surgeon, select a replacement aortic valve that may be mechanical (synthetic) or biological (tissue-based).

Aortic mechanical replacement valves are constructed from very durable metals, polymers, and other materials.

Biological tissue valves used in aortic valve replacement surgery consist of donated human tissue, animal tissue (pigs, cows) or the patient's own valve (via the Ross Procedure).

There are advantages and disadvantages associated with both forms of valve replacement types. Your doctor will be able to help recommend the appropriate, aortic valve replacement given several factors including your health, diagnosis and age.

Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery Options

Like most heart valve operations, aortic valve replacement surgery is typically an "open heart" procedure performed by heart surgeons, also known as cardiothoracic surgeons.

Traditional aortic valve replacement surgeries require the breast bone (sternum) to be split down the middle using a known as as a median sternotomy. This provides the surgeon with full access to the heart and chest cavity.

However, new minimally invasive procedures are being developed and used with patients - including robotic and cathether approaches. Such non-invasive procedures for aortic valve replacements have seen encouraging results as the chestplate is not broken and recovery is accelerated.

One additional option for patients to consider is the Ross Procedure (referenced above). In this unique form of aortic valve replacement surgery, the patient's own pulmonary valve is used to replace the defective aortic valve. Then, the surgeon uses a homograft valve (from a human donor) and inserts that replacement valve into the pulmonary position.

My Personal Story With Aortic Valve Replacement? I had severe stenosis and regurgitation when I learned that I needed my aortic valve replaced. Given my options, I chose the Ross Procedure after much research and consideration. Interestingly enough, the real challenge of aortic valve replacement was not the surgery... It was the recovery.

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