Aortic valve repair and aortic valve replacement are types of heart valve surgery. They are done to treat a damaged or diseased aortic valve.

The aortic valve is one of four valves that control blood flow in the heart. It is between the lower left heart chamber and the body's main artery, called the aorta.

Heart valves keep blood flowing in the correct direction through the heart. When the heart squeezes, the aortic valve opens. Blood flows from the lower left heart chamber into the aorta. When the heart relaxes, the aortic valve closes. This prevents blood from moving backward.

A diseased or damaged valve can change the flow of blood. The heart then has to work harder to send blood to the rest of the body.

Aortic valve repair and aortic valve replacement help improve blood flow and reduce symptoms of heart valve disease. The treatments also may prolong life. Aortic valve repair or replacement may be done as an open-heart surgery or as a minimally invasive procedure.

Before the procedure

You may need to have your body hair shaved where the surgical cuts, called incisions, are made. A special soap might be used to wash your skin to help prevent infection.

During the procedure

You receive medicine called an anesthetic to put you in a sleep-like state during the surgery. You are connected to a heart-lung bypass machine. The machine keeps blood moving through the body during the aortic valve surgery.

Aortic valve repair and aortic valve replacement may be done as:

• Open-heart surgery. This involves making a surgical cut, called an incision, through the middle of the chest to reach the heart.
• Minimally invasive heart surgery. This involves much smaller incisions than those used in open-heart surgery. Minimally invasive surgery usually does not require cutting any significant muscle or breaking any bones. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a type of minimally invasive heart valve surgery.

Minimally invasive heart surgery may involve a shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery and less pain than traditional open-heart surgery.

Aortic valve repair

Aortic valve repair is usually done with open-heart surgery and by opening the chest bone, a procedure called a sternotomy. Surgeons wire the bone back together after the procedure.

During aortic valve repair surgery, the heart surgeon might:

• Patch holes or tears in the aortic valve cusps.
• Add support at the base or roots of the valve.
• Separate valve cusps that have connected together.
• Reshape or remove tissue to allow the valve to close more tightly.
• Tighten or reinforce the ring around the valve, called the annulus.

Minimally invasive aortic valve repair

In some people with a narrowed aortic valve, a minimally invasive treatment called balloon valvuloplasty may be done to repair the valve. It uses much smaller surgical cuts than open-heart surgery. It does not require opening the chest bone.

During balloon valvuloplasty, the heart doctor places a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into an artery in the arm or groin. The tube is guided to the diseased or damaged aortic valve. A balloon on the tip of the catheter is inflated, which makes the valve opening larger. The balloon is deflated. The catheter and balloon are removed.

Balloon valvuloplasty is often used to treat infants and children with aortic valve stenosis. The aortic valve tends to narrow again in adults who have had the treatment. So balloon valvuloplasty is usually only done in adults who are too ill for surgery or who are waiting for a valve replacement.

Aortic valve replacement

If the aortic valve can't be fixed and other treatments aren't an option, the valve might need to be replaced.

During aortic valve replacement, a surgeon removes the valve and replaces it with a mechanical valve or a valve made from cow, pig or human heart tissue. Valves made from living tissue are called biological tissue valves.

A type of biological tissue valve replacement that uses your own lung valve, called the pulmonary valve, is sometimes possible. This more complicated surgery is called the Ross procedure.

Aortic valve replacement may be done using open-heart surgery or minimally invasive methods. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a type of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement. It also is called transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). During TAVR, long flexible tubes called catheters are used to place a biological valve in the heart to replace an aortic valve that is no longer working properly.

When minimally invasive aortic valve replacement is done by experienced surgeons and centers, the results are like those with traditional open-heart surgery.

Aortic valve replacement

If the aortic valve can't be fixed and other treatments aren't an option, the valve might need to be replaced.

During aortic valve replacement, a surgeon removes the valve and replaces it with a mechanical valve or a valve made from cow, pig or human heart tissue. Valves made from living tissue are called biological tissue valves.

A type of biological tissue valve replacement that uses your own lung valve, called the pulmonary valve, is sometimes possible. This more complicated surgery is called the Ross procedure.

Aortic valve replacement may be done using open-heart surgery or minimally invasive methods. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a type of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement. It also is called transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). During TAVR, long flexible tubes called catheters are used to place a biological valve in the heart to replace an aortic valve that is no longer working properly.

When minimally invasive aortic valve replacement is done by experienced surgeons and centers, the results are like those with traditional open-heart surgery.

After the procedure

The amount of time spent in the hospital after aortic valve surgery depends on the specific heart condition and type of procedure.

While in the hospital, you get fluids and medicines through an IV. Other tubes drain urine from the bladder and fluid and blood from the chest. You might get oxygen through a mask or a small plastic tube next to your nose.

During your hospital stay, your healthcare team does the following:

• Tracks your condition and watches for signs of infection.
• Checks your blood pressure, breathing and heart rate.
• Works with you to manage any pain.

You may be asked to walk regularly. This helps you slowly become more active. You are usually asked to cough and to do breathing exercises as you recover too. Recovery time depends on the specific type of aortic valve repair or replacement.

Before the procedure

You may need to have your body hair shaved where the surgical cuts, called incisions, are made. A special soap might be used to wash your skin to help prevent infection.

During the procedure

You receive medicine called an anesthetic to put you in a sleep-like state during the surgery. You are connected to a heart-lung bypass machine. The machine keeps blood moving through the body during the aortic valve surgery.

Aortic valve repair and aortic valve replacement may be done as:

• Open-heart surgery. This involves making a surgical cut, called an incision, through the middle of the chest to reach the heart.
• Minimally invasive heart surgery. This involves much smaller incisions than those used in open-heart surgery. Minimally invasive surgery usually does not require cutting any significant muscle or breaking any bones. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a type of minimally invasive heart valve surgery.

Minimally invasive heart surgery may involve a shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery and less pain than traditional open-heart surgery.

Aortic valve repair

Aortic valve repair is usually done with open-heart surgery and by opening the chest bone, a procedure called a sternotomy. Surgeons wire the bone back together after the procedure.

During aortic valve repair surgery, the heart surgeon might:

• Patch holes or tears in the aortic valve cusps.
• Add support at the base or roots of the valve.
• Separate valve cusps that have connected together.
• Reshape or remove tissue to allow the valve to close more tightly.
• Tighten or reinforce the ring around the valve, called the annulus.

Minimally invasive aortic valve repair

In some people with a narrowed aortic valve, a minimally invasive treatment called balloon valvuloplasty may be done to repair the valve. It uses much smaller surgical cuts than open-heart surgery. It does not require opening the chest bone.

During balloon valvuloplasty, the heart doctor places a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into an artery in the arm or groin. The tube is guided to the diseased or damaged aortic valve. A balloon on the tip of the catheter is inflated, which makes the valve opening larger. The balloon is deflated. The catheter and balloon are removed.

Balloon valvuloplasty is often used to treat infants and children with aortic valve stenosis. The aortic valve tends to narrow again in adults who have had the treatment. So balloon valvuloplasty is usually only done in adults who are too ill for surgery or who are waiting for a valve replacement.

Aortic valve replacement

If the aortic valve can't be fixed and other treatments aren't an option, the valve might need to be replaced.

During aortic valve replacement, a surgeon removes the valve and replaces it with a mechanical valve or a valve made from cow, pig or human heart tissue. Valves made from living tissue are called biological tissue valves.

A type of biological tissue valve replacement that uses your own lung valve, called the pulmonary valve, is sometimes possible. This more complicated surgery is called the Ross procedure.

Aortic valve replacement may be done using open-heart surgery or minimally invasive methods. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a type of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement. It also is called transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). During TAVR, long flexible tubes called catheters are used to place a biological valve in the heart to replace an aortic valve that is no longer working properly.

When minimally invasive aortic valve replacement is done by experienced surgeons and centers, the results are like those with traditional open-heart surgery.

Aortic valve replacement

If the aortic valve can't be fixed and other treatments aren't an option, the valve might need to be replaced.

During aortic valve replacement, a surgeon removes the valve and replaces it with a mechanical valve or a valve made from cow, pig or human heart tissue. Valves made from living tissue are called biological tissue valves.

A type of biological tissue valve replacement that uses your own lung valve, called the pulmonary valve, is sometimes possible. This more complicated surgery is called the Ross procedure.

Aortic valve replacement may be done using open-heart surgery or minimally invasive methods. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a type of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement. It also is called transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). During TAVR, long flexible tubes called catheters are used to place a biological valve in the heart to replace an aortic valve that is no longer working properly.

When minimally invasive aortic valve replacement is done by experienced surgeons and centers, the results are like those with traditional open-heart surgery.

After the procedure

The amount of time spent in the hospital after aortic valve surgery depends on the specific heart condition and type of procedure.

While in the hospital, you get fluids and medicines through an IV. Other tubes drain urine from the bladder and fluid and blood from the chest. You might get oxygen through a mask or a small plastic tube next to your nose.

During your hospital stay, your healthcare team does the following:

• Tracks your condition and watches for signs of infection.
• Checks your blood pressure, breathing and heart rate.
• Works with you to manage any pain.

You may be asked to walk regularly. This helps you slowly become more active. You are usually asked to cough and to do breathing exercises as you recover too. Recovery time depends on the specific type of aortic valve repair or replacement.

Before the procedure

You may need to have your body hair shaved where the surgical cuts, called incisions, are made. A special soap might be used to wash your skin to help prevent infection.

During the procedure

You receive medicine called an anesthetic to put you in a sleep-like state during the surgery. You are connected to a heart-lung bypass machine. The machine keeps blood moving through the body during the aortic valve surgery.

Aortic valve repair and aortic valve replacement may be done as:

• Open-heart surgery. This involves making a surgical cut, called an incision, through the middle of the chest to reach the heart.
• Minimally invasive heart surgery. This involves much smaller incisions than those used in open-heart surgery. Minimally invasive surgery usually does not require cutting any significant muscle or breaking any bones. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a type of minimally invasive heart valve surgery.

Minimally invasive heart surgery may involve a shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery and less pain than traditional open-heart surgery.

Aortic valve repair

Aortic valve repair is usually done with open-heart surgery and by opening the chest bone, a procedure called a sternotomy. Surgeons wire the bone back together after the procedure.

During aortic valve repair surgery, the heart surgeon might:

• Patch holes or tears in the aortic valve cusps.
• Add support at the base or roots of the valve.
• Separate valve cusps that have connected together.
• Reshape or remove tissue to allow the valve to close more tightly.
• Tighten or reinforce the ring around the valve, called the annulus.

Minimally invasive aortic valve repair

In some people with a narrowed aortic valve, a minimally invasive treatment called balloon valvuloplasty may be done to repair the valve. It uses much smaller surgical cuts than open-heart surgery. It does not require opening the chest bone.

During balloon valvuloplasty, the heart doctor places a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into an artery in the arm or groin. The tube is guided to the diseased or damaged aortic valve. A balloon on the tip of the catheter is inflated, which makes the valve opening larger. The balloon is deflated. The catheter and balloon are removed.

Balloon valvuloplasty is often used to treat infants and children with aortic valve stenosis. The aortic valve tends to narrow again in adults who have had the treatment. So balloon valvuloplasty is usually only done in adults who are too ill for surgery or who are waiting for a valve replacement.

Aortic valve replacement

If the aortic valve can't be fixed and other treatments aren't an option, the valve might need to be replaced.

During aortic valve replacement, a surgeon removes the valve and replaces it with a mechanical valve or a valve made from cow, pig or human heart tissue. Valves made from living tissue are called biological tissue valves.

A type of biological tissue valve replacement that uses your own lung valve, called the pulmonary valve, is sometimes possible. This more complicated surgery is called the Ross procedure.

Aortic valve replacement may be done using open-heart surgery or minimally invasive methods. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a type of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement. It also is called transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). During TAVR, long flexible tubes called catheters are used to place a biological valve in the heart to replace an aortic valve that is no longer working properly.

When minimally invasive aortic valve replacement is done by experienced surgeons and centers, the results are like those with traditional open-heart surgery.

Aortic valve replacement

If the aortic valve can't be fixed and other treatments aren't an option, the valve might need to be replaced.

During aortic valve replacement, a surgeon removes the valve and replaces it with a mechanical valve or a valve made from cow, pig or human heart tissue. Valves made from living tissue are called biological tissue valves.

A type of biological tissue valve replacement that uses your own lung valve, called the pulmonary valve, is sometimes possible. This more complicated surgery is called the Ross procedure.

Aortic valve replacement may be done using open-heart surgery or minimally invasive methods. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a type of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement. It also is called transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). During TAVR, long flexible tubes called catheters are used to place a biological valve in the heart to replace an aortic valve that is no longer working properly.

When minimally invasive aortic valve replacement is done by experienced surgeons and centers, the results are like those with traditional open-heart surgery.

After the procedure

The amount of time spent in the hospital after aortic valve surgery depends on the specific heart condition and type of procedure.

While in the hospital, you get fluids and medicines through an IV. Other tubes drain urine from the bladder and fluid and blood from the chest. You might get oxygen through a mask or a small plastic tube next to your nose.

During your hospital stay, your healthcare team does the following:

• Tracks your condition and watches for signs of infection.
• Checks your blood pressure, breathing and heart rate.
• Works with you to manage any pain.

You may be asked to walk regularly. This helps you slowly become more active. You are usually asked to cough and to do breathing exercises as you recover too. Recovery time depends on the specific type of aortic valve repair or replacement.