What patients need heart valve replacement surgery?

Leaky or tight valve: Generally this type of surgery is recommended for patients with severely stenotic (tight), or severely leaking (incompetent) valves. If a patient has a moderate case of either of these issues and have to go to bypass surgery, sometimes the surgeon will take care of the valve problem as well, that depends on the patient. The most common valves are aortic and mitral.

Stenotic or leaking: Any of the four heart valves can have congenital or acquired diseases. As they worsen clinically, as followed by echocardiogram or cath surgery will be considered and all risks and benefit chances reviewed mitral can frequently be opened or repaired depending on the surgical findings. Aortic generally can't be repaired or just opened except in kids. Replacement by biologic or mechanical valve.

Dr Stern agreed