The heart is the most critical organ of the human body. The human heart is made up of four chambers and four valves. These valves are responsible for controlling the blood through these chambers. The names of the four valves are the aortic valve, mitral valve, pulmonary valve, and tricuspid valve. In addition, valves are responsible for correcting the blood flow, aiding proper circulation throughout the body. Thus, if these valves become diseased or damaged, they may need impaired blood flow. Moreover, impaired blood flow can result in serious health complications or life-threatening conditions. In order to fix the impaired blood flow or damaged or diseased heart valve, patients are recommended for heart valve surgery, ensuring that the heart continues to function properly. In this blog, we’ll explore what heart valve surgery is, why it’s needed, and what you can expect from the procedure from the best heart doctor in Delhi. For more information, stay tuned.

What Is Heart Valve Surgery?

Heart valve surgery is performed to correct, fix, or replace the damaged or diseased valves to ensure proper blood flow throughout the body. Thus, the heart valve surgery is performed in the below-mentioned cases: 

1. Valve Repair: The valve repair is performed to fix the existing valve. This can be done by tightening, reshaping, or removing excess tissue, improving valve function.

2. Valve Replacement: As the name suggests, the surgery is performed to replace diseased and damaged heart valves. This surgery is opted for when the damaged heart valve cannot be repaired. Moreover, the damaged valve is replaced with a prosthetic valve. Now, this prosthetic valve can be either mechanical or biological. 

Why Is Heart Valve Surgery Needed?

Heart valve surgery is needed in two major cases, namely: 

1. Stenosis: when the heart valve cannot be opened completely. 

2. Regurgitation (or Insufficiency): When the valve does not close properly. 

Conditions that may cause the need for heart valve surgery are as follows: 

1. Aortic Stenosis (Narrowing aortic valve) 

2. Mitral Valve Prolapse (when the mitral valve does not close properly). 

3. Endocarditis (Infection causing damage to the heart valve)

4. Rheumatic Heart Disease (strep throat infection that damages mitral and aortic valves). 

5. Congenital Valve Defects (born with heart valve defect) 

Risks of Heart Valve Surgery

Risks associated with the heart valve surgery are as follows: 

1. Infection

2. Bleeding

3. Blood clots

4. Heart rhythm disturbances

5. Valve dysfunction or failure (in some cases)

However, if performed with high precision, the surgery has a high success rate. Thus, it is important to choose the right surgeon for your surgery. 

Get expert consultation for Heart Valve Surgery in Delhi from Dr. Sujay Shad at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital

Heart valve surgery can be a life-saving procedure for individuals with severe valve problems. During the surgery, the damaged or diseased heart valve is replaced or repaired. This helps in improving the impaired blood flow, followed by reducing the risk of heart failure or life-threatening conditions. Since the surgery is complex, there are some risks associated with it. However, these risks can be reduced by opting for an experienced and skilled cardiac surgeon. If you or a loved one is facing the possibility of heart valve surgery in Delhi, you can consult Dr. Sujay Shad at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. To know more, request an appointment today.