Aortic heart valve replacement surgery is used to remove a diseased or defective aortic valve and replace it with a man-made or tissue valve.

 

Once the anesthesia takes effect, the surgeon makes an incision down the chest and separates the breastbone. The patient then receives blood-thinning medicine and is connected to a heart-lung bypass machine, which supplies the body with oxygen during the procedure.

 

The surgeon opens the aorta and carefully removes the old aortic heart valve; the replacement valve is then sewn into place.

 

When there is severe narrowing of the aortic heart valve, replacement surgery can help improve the symptoms of this condition, such as fatigue, fainting, and shortness of breath. This type of heart valve replacement can also improve a person's life expectancy. However, as with any surgery, there are problems that can occur. Examples of complications that may occur with this procedure include: