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"What Is The Patient's Lifespan After Heart Valve Replacement Operations?" Asks Valerie

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: May 10, 2025

When diagnosed with severe heart valve disease, most patients have a fundamental question which races through their minds. That question goes a little something like this, "Oh My Gawwwwwd... What Can I Do To Live?!"

Valerie has taken this question a step further... Valerie has been diagnosed with thickened, calcified mitral and aortic valve leaflets and moderate mitral regurgitation. She is almost certain that surgery is required. That said, Valerie's email to me reads, "Adam - I am very afraid right now. My questions are... After a heart valve repair or replacement, can the patient live a regular long life? What is the lifespan associated with heart valve surgery?"

Calcified mitral valve with calcium on annulus

Calcified Mitral Valve - Thickened Leaflets

My response to Valerie first question is a confident... "Yes!" Patient's can live a regular, long life after heart valve repair and heart valve replacement surgery.

As for her second question...

While I was preparing for my aortic valve replacement, I spent a significant amount of time researching heart valve surgery and the post-operative condition.

In fact, there is some excellent data about life expectancy after heart valve replacement surgery from St. Jude Medical, one of the leading heart valve manufacturers. According to its research, "the mean age of patients presenting for valve surgery is increasing, as is the life expectancy following valve surgery."

Patient life expectancy after heart valve surgery

If you look at the graph above, you can see that life expectancy ranges from 29.9 years to 14.3 years for patients experiencing heart valve surgery between the age range of 50 to 70.

While the graph above shares encouraging lifespan data for valve surgery patients, I have had the pleasure of meeting several patients that significantly stretched their life as a result of heart valve repair and/or heart valve replacement operations. Though this website and my book, I have spoke with many patients that had their surgeries 10-, 20-, 30- or even 40-years ago. Yes, you read that right! 40 years ago!!!

To learn more about this topic, I was very fortunate to interview Dr. Joanna Chikwe, the Chair of Cardiac Surgery at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, California.

Given the impact of heart valve surgery on life expectancy, this is one more reason I consider valvular therapy to be a medical miracle rather than a painful curse.

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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