What Is Heart Valve Surgery?

Heart valve surgery is a common procedure to repair or replace damaged heart valves hindering blood flow. It targets valves like the aortic, mitral, or tricuspid, using methods like Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) or Valve Replacement Surgery. Defective valves can disrupt blood flow or cause arrhythmias, necessitating surgery for restoration.

What Is Heart-Valve Disease?

Heart valve disease affects the valves in the heart, which regulate blood flow. When these valves malfunction, it disrupts the heart's function, impeding the smooth circulation of purified blood throughout the body. This can lead to complications like backflow of blood, regurgitation, or narrowing of valves (stenosis). Heart valve disorders increase the risk of other cardiac conditions such as strokes, heart attacks, and heart failure. The heart has four valves: the tricuspid, mitral, aortic, and pulmonary valves.

Types of Heart Valve Diseases and Symptoms

Mitral Valve Prolapse:

  • Also known as Barlow's syndrome, balloon mitral valve, or floppy valve syndrome.
  • Occurs when the mitral valve doesn't function properly, leading to backflow of blood into the atrium.
  • Symptoms may include high heart rates, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue.

Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease:

  • A condition present from birth where the aortic valve has only two flaps instead of three.
  • Symptoms include breathlessness, chest pain, fatigue, and fainting.
  • Can be successfully treated with surgery.

Valvular Stenosis:

  • Occurs when a valve doesn't fully open during heart pumping.
  • Symptoms may include chest pain, fatigue, breathlessness, and fainting.
  • Treatment ranges from medication to valve replacement surgery.

Valvular Regurgitation:

  • Also known as a "leaky valve," causes blood backflow due to improper valve closure.
  • Symptoms include cough, fatigue, chest pain, high heart rates, and swelling in limbs.
  • Treatment varies based on severity, often requiring surgery.

Common Symptoms of Heart Valve Disorders:

  • Cough
  • Headaches
  • Pulmonary edema
  • Elevated heart rates
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Limb swelling
  • Fatigue, dizziness, and fainting

Treatment of Heart Valve Diseases

Home-Care Remedies:

  • Maintain a healthy diet and avoid processed or junk foods.
  • Regular consultations with healthcare professionals.
  • Avoid smoking, alcohol, and drugs for a healthy lifestyle.

Medication:

  • Diuretics to reduce fluid retention.
  • Vasodilators to open blood vessels and improve blood flow.
  • Beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers to regulate heart rate and enhance blood supply.

Surgical Options:

Stenosis:

  • Valve reconstruction or replacement surgery.
  • Valvuloplasty for valve widening using a balloon catheter.

Regurgitation:

  • Valve replacement surgery or repair to correct valve leakage.
  • Support structures may be used to shorten valve size for better closure.

Open Heart Surgery:

  • Common approach involving a surgical incision in the breastbone to access and treat the heart valves.

Minimally Invasive Surgery:

  • Involves smaller incisions and the use of catheters to access and treat heart valves through the skin.

Treatment in India:

  • India offers various treatment options for heart valve diseases, including stenosis and regurgitation.
  • Procedures such as open-heart surgery and minimally invasive surgery are performed by skilled surgeons.
  • Valvuloplasty and valve replacement surgeries are common treatments provided to patients with heart valve disorders.

Heart Valve Surgery Cost In India

The estimated cost of Heart Valve Surgery in India is USD 4414 (INR 350000) and can be the highest cost at USD 6306 (INR 500000). The cost can vary from state to state and depends on certain factors, such as the condition of that patient's valves, the type of hospital, the experience of the surgeon, etc.