Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery
Minimally invasive valve surgery is a cardiac catheterization procedure. It repairs or replaces a diseased or damaged heart valve. The most commonly repaired or replaced valves are the mitral valve and the aortic valve. Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement is also called transcatheter aortic valve implantation/replacement (TAVI/TAVR).
Why minimally invasive valve surgery is performed
Minimally invasive valve surgery repairs or replaces heart valves that do not work as well as they should. Heart valves are small tissue flaps between the four chambers of the heart. They keep blood moving forward through the heart. If they become narrowed or floppy, they can cause problems with heart function. Minimally invasive procedures enable doctors to fix these valves without performing open heart surgery.
The most common symptoms that may indicate valve surgery is necessary include:
Chest pain or shortness of breath due to a valve problem
Significant blood regurgitation, which lets blood flow backwards through the valve
Significant narrowing of a valve, which restricts blood flow out of the heart
What to expect
An interventional cardiologist performs minimally invasive heart valve surgery in a hospital. The procedure takes place in a cardiac catheterization lab – or cath lab. You will likely receive sedation to keep you drowsy throughout the procedure. It usually requires at least an overnight stay afterwards.
The doctor will make a small incision in a major vein, usually in your groin. Then, the doctor inserts thin, flexible instruments into the blood vessel. Guiding these instruments to the faulty heart valve, the surgeon will repair or replace the damaged valve. You may feel mild stinging or burning in the chest during the procedure. This is normal.
Recovery after minimally invasive valve surgery
You will need to spend several hours lying flat on your back to allow the incision site to seal. This may occur in a recovery area or in a special cardiac care unit of the hospital.
Before you go home the next day, you will receive detailed instructions regarding follow-up appointments, medications, and activity restrictions. You should promptly report any unusual symptoms.
Heart valve repair or replacement generally improves heart function and blood circulation. As a result, you may feel much more energetic after minimally invasive valve surgery.
