Valve Replacement & Repair

Valve replacement is commonly used to treat aortic valves or severely damaged mitral valves. There are two kinds of valves that are used:

1. Mechanical Valves: These are made from durable materials such as metals, ceramics, and plastics. 
2. Biological Valves: These are made from the following sources –
   • Autograft: Also called Ross or Switch procedure, these are made from the patient’s own tissue (healthy pulmonary valves).
   • Homograft or Allograft: Human tissue of a donated heart is used to replace the damaged one.
   • Xenograph: Animal tissue is used to replace a human valve.  

For heart valve repair, the following treatment surgeries are performed.

An incision is made in the centre of the sternum (breastbone) to access the heart. The abnormal heart valve is then repaired or replaced by the surgeon.

It is performed through small incisions. So, the cuts are small, and blood loss and hospital stays are quite less.