Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve, which causes the heart to push harder to get blood through the smaller opening; less blood circulates through the heart and to the rest of the body. Over time, the left ventricle thickens and pumps blood less efficiently. Aortic valve replacement is a surgery used to remove a diseased or defective aortic valve and replace it with another valve.
In people with aortic stenosis, valve replacement surgery can help reduce or relieve symptoms of this condition, such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Fainting
- Fatigue
- Swelling in the legs.
In cases of aortic stenosis, the replacement valve will be one of two types:
- A mechanical valve, made of metal and plastic
- A tissue valve taken from an animal heart.
(Click Aortic Valve Replacement for more information about this surgery. This article describes what to expect before and after the surgery, as well as potential complications associated with the procedure.)
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