Aortic Stenosis Valve Replacement

Aortic valve replacement is a surgery used to remove a diseased or defective aortic valve and replace it with another valve. Aortic stenosis is a condition that may be treated with an aortic valve replacement.
 
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.
 
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.
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For people with aortic stenosis, valve replacement may also increase life expectancy (see Life Expectancy After Aortic Valve Replacement).
 
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.
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(Click Aortic Valve Replacement for more information about the surgery used to treat aortic stenosis. This article describes what to expect before and after the surgery as well as potential complications associated with the procedure.)
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD