How to Repair a Heart Valve

A heart valve repair is a treatment for valvular heart disease. This disease occurs when your heart valve becomes stiff or stenotic, such that it has to work harder to pump blood through your valve. According to the National Lung and Blood Institute (NLBI), heart surgeons actually prefer to repair your heart valve instead of replacing it with an artificial one whenever possible. A heart valve repair may also save you from a lifetime of blood-thinning medication and a lower risk of developing endocarditic after your surgery. Both are associated with a heart valve replacement.

Instructions

Repair a Heart Valve

• 1

  Discuss your treatment options with your doctor. According to the Texas Heart Institute, mild heart valve damage can be treated with medication. However, a severely damaged heart valve requires surgery.

• 2

  Have your heart valve repaired. Your heart surgeon separates your fused valve leaflets, or your heart valve tissue is reshaped and part of your mitral valve is removed so your heart valve can close tighter and eliminate leakage. Your heart surgeon may also affix more tissue to your heart valve to increase its strength or patch holes or tears in the valve.

• 3

  Limit your activities and rest during your recovery. If you've had a newer procedure and were healthy before your operation, recovery might take as little as two to four weeks. However, if you undergo a traditional heart valve repair surgery, your recovery time takes approximately eight weeks.