Aortic valve replacement (Open heart surgery) in India

Aortic valve replacement surgery is performed by heart surgeons to replace a diseased or damaged aortic valve in the heart. The aortic valve is responsible for regulating the flow of oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. This procedure is usually performed with open heart surgery.

The operation begins with the patient being given general anaesthesia to ensure they are unconscious and pain-free throughout the procedure. Once the anesthesia has taken effect, a vertical incision is made in the middle of the chest to access the heart. To facilitate the surgery, the patient is connected to a heart-lung bypass machine. This machine takes over the pumping action of the heart and oxygenates the blood, allowing the surgeon to temporarily stop the heart to facilitate the surgical procedure.

Your heart surgeon then proceeds to remove the diseased aortic valve. Depending on the condition of the valve, they may need to cut around it and remove the the leaflets or, in more severe cases, excise the entire valve. After the removal of the diseased valve, your surgeon implants a new valve in its place.

Once the new valve is securely in place, the surgeon ensures it functions properly and closes the incision. The heart is then allowed to regain its normal rhythm, and the bypass machine is gradually disconnected. The incision is sutured , and the operation is complete. After the procedure , the patient is closely monitored in the intensive care unit (ICU) for 1 to 2 days to ensure a  recovery. You will usually need to stay in hospital about 4 to 7 days.

The length if the hospital stay may vary depending on the individuals condition and surgical approach used. Heart valve replacement recovery takes about one or two months.