How It Works
Similar to the traditional coronary artery bypass surgery, your surgeon will make a middle-of-the-chest (sternal) incision during valve surgery, and your heart will be connected to the heart-lung machine.
Your Ohio Valley HeartCare cardiovascular surgeon will stop your heart in order to replace the malfunctioning valve. Once the procedure is complete, your surgeon will re-start your heart and disconnect the heart-lung machine.
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Valves control blood flow between
each chamber in your heart. They
open and close to permit the blood to
flow in one direction through the
heart. When a valve is defective, it
cannot restrict blood from surging into
and out of one of the chambers.
Improperly functioning valves permit
either leakage (regurgitation) if they
refuse to close or blockage if they
become too narrow/tight (stenotic).
These conditions place tremendous
strain on the heart muscle.
When either of these conditions is
present, your Ohio Valley HeartCare
cardiologist or cardiovascular surgeon
may recommend valve replacement or
valve repair surgery.
There are two primary types of prostheses used for valve replacement: tissue valves and mechanical valves. In collaboration with you, your surgeon will decide the most appropriate type of valve to use for your specific condition.
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