Heart valve repair: options and benefits

Repairing heart valves is a cornerstone in the treatment of heart disease, giving patients a chance at a healthier and more active life. Understanding the options available, the benefits of each procedure and the materials used is crucial to making informed decisions with your specialist.

This article explores in detail the different types of interventions, from minimally invasive to classical surgery, and the importance of recovery in the healing process.

The Importance of Heart Valves

Heart valves play a vital role in ensuring one-way blood flow through the heart. When they are damaged, problems such as stenosis (narrowing of the valve) or regurgitation (inability of the valve to close properly) can occur. These conditions can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath and chest pain, significantly affecting quality of life.

Treatment Options: Valve Repair vs. Valve Replacement

Depending on the severity and nature of the valve disease, your doctor may recommend valve repair or replacement. Valve repair is often preferred when possible because it preserves the patient's heart tissue and may provide better long-term results. Valve replacement is considered when the valve is too damaged to repair.

Heart Valve Repair Techniques

In recent years, many innovative techniques for repairing heart valves have emerged, offering patients less invasive and faster recovery options.

1. Minimally Invasive Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery uses tiny incisions and video-guided специиальные instruments to repair the heart valve. This approach has many advantages, including:

• Reduced postoperative pain: Small incisions and minimal trauma to the surrounding tissues significantly reduce the pain experienced by the patient after surgery.
• Faster recovery: Patients can return to their normal activities faster than with traditional surgery.
• Smaller scars: Small incisions leave minimal scarring, which is an important consideration for many patients.
• Reduced risk of infection: Smaller incisions reduce the risk of postoperative infection.

2. Classic Cardiac Surgery

Classic heart surgery is still a viable option for certain cases of valve disease. It involves a larger incision in the chest to directly access the heart and repair the damaged valve. Although recovery may be longer than with minimally invasive surgery, classical surgery remains an effective and safe procedure for many patients.

Materials Used in Valve Repair

Depending on the type of valve and the nature of the repair, surgeons may use different materials, such as:

• Biological tissues: Tissues taken from the patient (e.g. pericardium) or from donors can be used to repair or reconstruct heart valves.
• Synthetic materials: Materials such as polyester or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are used to create supporting structures or to replace parts of the valve.

Recovery After Heart Valve Repair

Recovery after heart valve repair is an important process and requires patience and dedication. Patients will receive specific instructions from the medical team, which may include:

• Pain management: Pain medication will be prescribed to help manage postoperative discomfort.
• Rehabilitation exercises: A light exercise program will be recommended to improve blood circulation and speed up the healing process.
• Close monitoring: Patients will be closely monitored to detect any complications and to ensure optimal recovery.

Advantages of Heart Valve Repair

Heart valve repair offers many benefits for patients, including:

• Symptom improvement: Successful heart valve repair can lead to significant relief of symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath and chest pain.
• Increased quality of life: Patients can enjoy a more active and healthy life after valve repair.
• Reduced risk of complications: Valve repair, when possible, may reduce the risk of long-term complications compared to valve replacement.

Heart valve repair is an effective and safe treatment option for many patients with heart valve disease. Technological advances and minimally invasive techniques have transformed this procedure, offering patients faster recovery, reduced pain and excellent long-term results. Talk to your specialist to determine the most appropriate treatment option for you.

Latest medical review:

13.02.2025, Dr. Lucian Stoica - Primary Physician

References:

• Anker, Stefan D. (PhD), et. al. "Transcatheter Valve Repair in Heart Failure with Moderate to Severe Mitral Regurgitation." The New England Journal of Medicine, 2024, vol. 391, no. 19.
• Fioretta, Emanuela S., et. al. "The future of heart valve replacement: recent developments and translational challenges for heart valve tissue engineering". Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2016.
• Gammie, James S., et. al. "Safety and performance of a novel transventricular beating heart transventricular mitral valve repair system: 1-year outcomes". European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 2021, vol. 59, no. 1, pg. 199 - 206.
• Lansac, Emmanuel, de Kerchove, Laurent."Aortic valve repair techniques: state of the art". European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 2018, vol. 53, no. 6, pg. 1101 - 1107.
• Stone, Gregg W. (PhD), et al."Transcatheter Mitral-Valve Repair in Patients with Heart Failure." The New England Journal of Medicine, 2018, vol. 379, no. 24.