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Heart Valve Replacement Surgery
Surgery to replace a badly damaged heart valve with a mechanical or tissue valve when repair is not possible. It restores normal blood flow through the heart.
Causes & risk factors
- Severe valve narrowing (stenosis)
- Severe valve leakage (regurgitation)
- Rheumatic valve damage
- Infected valve (endocarditis)
- Congenital valve defects
Common symptoms
Tests & diagnosis
- Echocardiogram
- ECG
- Coronary angiography
- Pre-operative blood tests
- PT/INR (for mechanical valves)
Treatment & management
- Mechanical valve (durable, needs lifelong blood thinners)
- Tissue valve (fewer blood thinners, may wear out sooner)
- Minimally invasive or catheter-based replacement (such as TAVI) in selected patients
- Cardiac rehabilitation after surgery
- Regular follow-up and, for mechanical valves, INR monitoring
When to see a doctor urgently
- Call emergency services for chest pain, fever or sudden breathlessness after surgery
- See your doctor for unusual bleeding if on blood thinners
- Report fever or new murmurs promptly (possible valve infection)
Not a diagnosis. MedDroid gives general educational information about heart valve replacement surgery. It cannot examine you, diagnose or prescribe — always confirm with a qualified doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Mechanical or tissue valve — which is better?
Mechanical valves last longer but need lifelong blood thinners; tissue valves need fewer but may wear out. The choice depends on age and lifestyle.
Do I need antibiotics before dental work?
Many valve patients do, to prevent valve infection — check with your cardiologist.
Explore more
Sources & further reading
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- MedlinePlus — U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India
- Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Reviewed by Dr. Sanjay Anbu, MBBS. MedDroid is an AI medical assistant and can make mistakes. It provides general health information, not a diagnosis or medical advice — always consult a qualified clinician. In an emergency, contact your local emergency number immediately.