Heart valve surgery is a medical procedure to treat heart valve disease. Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of the four heart valves are not functioning correctly, resulting in disrupted blood flow through the heart.
The four heart valves, namely the mitral valve, the tricuspid valve, the pulmonary valve, and the aortic valve, each consist of flaps known as leaflets (in the case of the mitral and tricuspid valves) or cusps for the aortic and pulmonary valves. During each heartbeat, these flaps should open and close exactly once, and as such a malfunctioning valve can cause irregular blood flow throughout the body.
Heart valve surgery aims to repair or replace the affected heart valves by employing open-heart surgery or minimally invasive heart surgery techniques, depending on factors such as the patient’s age, overall health, and the type and severity of the valve disease.
It is important to approach heart valve surgery with an accredited medical professional, and the appropriate treatment plan will be dictated by the attending medical authorities.
