Heart valve replacement surgery involves removing a damaged or diseased heart valve and replacing it with a prosthetic valve made from synthetic materials or animal tissue. Heart valve replacement surgery is recommended when a heart valve does not function properly. If it is not treated, the valves may weaken and cause damage to the heart and other organs. The signs that suggest that you need heart valve replacement surgery include chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue.

This blog will take a closer look at what a heart valve replacement is and the best time to undergo this procedure. To draft this post, we have taken references from Dr. Sujay Shad, a renowned heart surgery doctor in Delhi practising at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Let’s first understand what a heart valve replacement is.

What is a Heart Valve Replacement? 

A heart valve replacement is a procedure where a damaged or malfunctioning heart valve gets replaced with a new one. The new valve is made up of biological tissue (tissue valve) or artificial (man-made) materials. The procedure is usually performed as open-heart surgery. During the procedure, an incision is made in the chest, and the heart gets stopped temporarily. However, in a few cases, a minimally invasive approach can also be used. The success of the procedure is high, and the patient’s recovery will depend on the patient’s age, overall health, and the type of valve replacement.

What is the Right Time to Undergo Heart Valve Replacement Surgery? 

The best timing of the surgery depends on the condition of the valve, the overall health of the patient and if there are any other conditions the patient is suffering from. In general, it is recommended to have surgery as soon as possible when the patient is experiencing severe symptoms. These include a rapidly deteriorating valve or when there is a risk of it causing serious complications such as an infection, heart failure or embolism.

If the valve does not cause symptoms or is not progressing rapidly, the surgery may be delayed. This will also allow patients to recover from medical conditions or to monitor the valve condition before making a decision.

It is also vital to note that the ideal type of valve replacement will depend on the specific condition of the valves, the medical condition and age of the patient, and other factors such as the surgeon's experience.

Final Takeaway

If you are planning to undergo heart valve surgery in Delhi, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Sujay Shad, a famous heart doctor, at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Besides specialising in heart valve surgery, the expert heart doctor specialises in performing a range of heart procedures such as HOCM, heart transplants, coronary bypass surgery, aortic surgery and many more.

For more details on these heart procedures, consult the top-notch heart doctor, Dr. Sujay Shad, at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.