Aortic Valve Replacement

About Aortic Valve Replacement

Aortic valve replacement treats a diseased aortic valve — the valve controlling blood flow from the heart into the body's main artery — that has become narrowed (stenosis) or leaky (regurgitation), causing symptoms such as breathlessness, chest pain, or fainting. In conventional open-heart surgery, the chest is opened, the heart is temporarily stopped and supported by a heart-lung bypass machine, and the surgeon removes the diseased valve and sews in a mechanical or biological replacement sized to the patient's anatomy. Mechanical valves last longer but require lifelong anticoagulant medication, while tissue valves avoid this but may need replacement after ten to twenty years, and the surgical team helps patients weigh these trade-offs based on age and health. The operation generally takes a few hours, with patients spending time in intensive care afterward before moving to a regular ward. It is one of the most established cardiac surgeries performed in India, with centers offering a full range of valve types and experienced perioperative monitoring. International patients typically stay in India for around two to three weeks in total to allow for surgery, initial recovery, and a follow-up assessment before flying home.