Aortic Valve Surgery

Aortic Valve Repair and Replacement

The aortic valve is located between the left ventricle (lower heart chamber) and the aorta, which is the largest artery in the body. Valves maintain one-way blood flow through the heart. Aortic valve disease occurs when the aortic valve does not work correctly. This can be caused by aortic valve stenosis or aortic valve regurgitation.

Valve replacement surgery can be performed using traditional heart valve surgery or minimally invasive approaches. Some patients are more suitable for aortic valve repair rather than replacement. For these patients, the approach to surgery is that same as for replacement and the minimally invasive approach is also available. When appropriate, repair of the aortic valve has been shown to have comparable results to replacement and allows the patient to keep their native valve and possibly avoid the use of long-term anticoagulants (blood thinners).

Minimally Invasive Valve Replacement

Traditional aortic valve surgery uses a standard mid-sternum incision after which the patient is placed on the bypass pump, a clamp is placed across the aorta, and an incision in the aorta provides access to the valve where the aorta meets the heart. The surgeon then repairs or replaces your abnormal heart valve or valves.

Minimally invasive aortic valve surgery is a type of aortic valve repair surgery performed through smaller, 2- to 4-inch incisions. Minimally invasive surgery reduces blood loss, trauma, and length of hospital stay. Since the sternum is not divided, these patients return home with very few restrictions, heal faster, and are able to return to their normal activities sooner. Most valve replacements at Stamford Hospital's Heart and Vascular Institute are performed in a minimally invasive fashion.