Heart valve surgery is an operation to repair the mitral, tricuspid, pulmonary or aortic valves. Surgery is necessary if these heart valves are not functioning properly (they do not support the proper direction of blood flow through the heart). Abroad, heart valve surgery is performed on an open heart or using a minimally invasive method.
Types of Heart Valve Surgery
Reconstructive surgery is divided into two main subspecies: annuloplasty and valvuloplasty. Annuloplasty is a procedure to tighten or strengthen a ring around a valve. The annular space can expand and change relative to its normal shape, which eventually leads to blood leakage through a closed valve. Problems may also arise due to the accumulation of calcium deposits on the ring. In this case, the surgeon measures the size of the existing ring, and then sews an artificial insert to it, which can be rigid or flexible.
Valvuloplasty is a procedure to repair a heart valve with a narrowed opening. In this condition, the valves can become thick or rigid (stenosis), which leads to a decrease in blood flow through them. Valvuloplasty improves blood flow through an open valve, thereby reducing the symptoms of pathology. The cost of heart valve surgery will depend on the type of recommended procedure and method (open or minimally invasive approach).
Heart valve plastic surgery procedure
You can make an appointment for heart valve surgery at a clinic abroad through an official representative of a medical center in Russia. First, the patient is examined to draw up a detailed operation plan. Before the procedure, the anesthesiologist injects anesthetics so that the patient does not feel anything and remains unconscious. Then he is connected to an artificial blood circulation machine.
Surgery can be performed on an open heart (with a large incision and separation of the chest) or through a smaller incision (thoracoscopic surgery) using long instruments or a robotic system. You can only find out how much heart valve surgery costs with the help of a robot after making a diagnosis.
Endovascular plastic surgery of heart valves
Minimally invasive balloon valvuloplasty is available abroad. In this procedure, the surgeon inserts a balloon-tipped catheter into an artery in the arm or groin and guides it to a narrowed valve in the heart under the guidance of an X-ray. He then inflates the balloon, which expands the valve opening. After that, the balloon is deflated and the catheter is removed. The price of such a heart valve repair will be lower than the cost of open surgery, since the procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and does not require prolonged hospitalization. Minimally invasive surgery also provides less pain and subtle scars than the open approach.
After heart valve surgery, the patient can return to daily activities (work, driving, and physical exercise). In this case, you will need to take certain medications systematically and visit a doctor regularly.
