To replace a heart valve, your doctor removes the heart valve and replaces it with a mechanical valve or a valve made from cow, pig or human heart tissue (biological tissue valve). Biological valves often eventually need to be replaced, as they break down over time.
You'll be placed on a bypass machine that keeps blood circulating through your body and your lungs functioning during surgery. Your surgeon will make incisions into your aorta, through which the valves will be removed and replaced. There's almost a 2 percent risk of death associated with valve replacement surgery.
An aortic valve replacement is a major operation and occasionally the complications can be fatal. Overall, the risk of dying as a result of the procedure is estimated to be 2%. But this risk is far lower than the risk associated with leaving severe aortic disease untreated.
Valve repair or replacement is generally safe. However, as with any surgery or procedure, complications can occur. Possible risks associated with treatment include: Bleeding during or after treatment or damage to the blood vessels.
The surgery will take at least two hours or longer, depending upon the number of valves that need to be repaired or replaced. You will wake up in the recovery room or an intensive care unit (ICU). You will stay in the hospital for about a week.
