Your cardiologist will analyse the severity of your condition and may recommend valve replacement. The decision is based on your symptoms, your general health and how well your heart is managing to pump blood around your body.
The procedure to replace the valve is typically open heart surgery. This means the surgeon makes an incision in your chest to access your heart directly. During surgery the job of oxygenating your blood is done by machine and the heart is stopped or slowed down during the procedure.
The new valve may be synthetic metal or made from animal tissue.
Open heart surgery is a serious procedure and you will need to remain in hospital until you are well enough to go home. This is typically a week after surgery.
You’ll need to give yourself time to recover at home; if you are working, you’ll need between two and three months off.
After surgery, you will need intermittent checks at the hospital or clinic to ensure your new valve is functioning correctly. You may need to take medication, such as aspirin or an anticoagulant if you have a metal valve.
A surveillance programme enables your consultant to closely monitor your condition.
TAVI (or TAVR) is a minimally invasive procedure of placing an artificial valve into your heart.