Treatment

• Heart Catheterization
• Stents
• Rotational Atherectomy
• Brachytherapy
• Pacemakers
• Enhanced External Counterpulsation
• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
• Transmyocardial revascularization
• Valve Repair

• Treatment

Home > Medical Services > Cardiology/Vascular > Treatment > Valve Repair

Valve Repair

Sometimes heart valves do not open and close tightly and thus they leak. Heart valves that are not working well increase the amount of work the heart has to do to pump. When your heart has to pump too hard, you can have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath and dizziness. Some heart valves do not work correctly for many reasons, such as birth defects, infection, scarlet fever or rheumatic fever. Operations that can help are:

• Aortic valve: Aortic valve surgery improves the function of the aortic valve, thereby relieving the heart of additional workload. To repair aortic valve function, the real valve is removed and replaced with an artificial one. There are several types of artificial valves surgeons consider for use. Many variables, such as your age and lifestyle are used to determine which valve to use.
  
• Mitral valve: Mitral valve surgery restores the function of the mitral valve, which is to help blood on the left side of the heart flow in one direction. This is accomplished by either valve repair or replacement.
  
• Valvuloplasty: A balloon is placed to enlarge the mitral and aortic valve openings. This procedure provides an option for those who are not surgery candidates.