Heart Valve Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital

Heart Valve Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital provides specialized surgical treatment for patients with damaged, narrowed or leaking heart valves. Cardiac surgeons evaluate valve disease and determine whether repair, replacement or another treatment approach is most appropriate based on the patient's condition, valve anatomy and overall health.

Price

Price on Request

Why Price on Request?

The cost depends on the type and severity of valve disease, surgical approach, valve procedure, diagnostic testing, anesthesia, hospitalization and follow-up care required. A personalized estimate is provided according to the treatment plan.

Complete Description

What Is Heart Valve Surgery?

Heart Valve Surgery is a surgical treatment used to repair or replace a heart valve that is not functioning properly.

Heart valve disease may involve:

• Aortic valve

• Mitral valve

• Tricuspid valve

• Pulmonary valve

Valve problems may cause the valve to become:

• Narrowed

• Leaky

• Stiff

• Abnormally structured

Who May Need Heart Valve Surgery?

Surgery may be considered for selected patients with:

• Severe valve narrowing

• Severe valve leakage

• Significant symptoms

• Reduced heart function

• Progressive valve disease

• Structural valve abnormalities

Heart Valve Evaluation

Before surgery, patients may undergo:

• Cardiology consultation

• Physical examination

• Echocardiogram

• ECG

• Cardiac imaging

• Blood tests

• Other diagnostic testing when appropriate

Aortic Valve Surgery

Aortic valve surgery may be considered for significant aortic valve disease, including:

• Aortic stenosis

• Aortic regurgitation

• Certain congenital valve abnormalities

Treatment may involve valve repair or replacement depending on the condition.

Mitral Valve Surgery

Mitral valve surgery may address:

• Mitral stenosis

• Mitral regurgitation

• Degenerative mitral valve disease

• Other structural abnormalities

When appropriate, repair may be preferred over replacement.

Tricuspid Valve Surgery

Tricuspid valve surgery may be considered for selected patients with significant tricuspid valve disease.

Treatment can involve:

• Valve repair

• Valve replacement

• Treatment of associated cardiac conditions

Heart Valve Repair

Valve repair aims to preserve the patient's own valve while restoring more normal valve function.

Repair may involve:

• Reconstructing valve tissue

• Supporting valve structures

• Correcting abnormal valve movement

• Improving valve closure

Heart Valve Replacement

When repair is not appropriate, valve replacement may be considered.

Replacement options may include:

• Mechanical valves

• Tissue valves

The appropriate choice depends on individual patient factors.

Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery

Selected patients may be candidates for minimally invasive valve procedures.

Potential advantages can include:

• Smaller incisions

• Reduced tissue disruption

• Potentially shorter recovery

Suitability depends on valve anatomy, disease severity and overall health.

Complex Valve Surgery

Patients with multiple valve problems or other significant heart conditions may require complex surgical planning.

A multidisciplinary cardiac team may evaluate the patient and determine the most appropriate treatment strategy.

Heart Valve Imaging

Imaging plays an important role in surgical planning.

Possible studies include:

• Echocardiography

• Transesophageal echocardiography

• CT imaging

• Cardiac MRI when appropriate

Preoperative Planning

Before surgery, evaluation may include:

• Cardiac testing

• Blood tests

• Anesthesia assessment

• Medication review

• Surgical planning

• Assessment of other medical conditions

Heart Valve Surgery Recovery

After surgery, patients are monitored for:

• Heart function

• Heart rhythm

• Blood pressure

• Surgical-site healing

• Mobility

• Recovery progress

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation may be recommended following appropriate valve surgery.

It may include:

• Supervised exercise

• Strength and conditioning

• Activity guidance

• Cardiovascular risk management

• Recovery education

Valve Surgery Follow-Up

Long-term follow-up may include:

• Clinical examinations

• Echocardiograms

• Heart rhythm monitoring

• Medication management

• Assessment of valve function

Heart Valve Surgery Risks

Potential surgical complications may include:

• Bleeding

• Infection

• Blood clots

• Abnormal heart rhythms

• Stroke

• Kidney complications

• Valve-related complications

Individual risk varies according to the patient's health and type of procedure.

Heart Valve Surgery Second Opinion

Patients who have received a recommendation for valve surgery may seek a cardiac surgery second opinion.

Specialists may review:

• Echocardiograms

• CT scans

• Cardiac MRI

• ECGs

• Medical records

• Previous procedures

• Surgical recommendations

International Patients

International patients should provide available cardiac records.

Useful documents may include:

• Echocardiogram reports

• Transesophageal echocardiography reports

• ECG reports

• Cardiac imaging

• Previous cardiac procedure reports

• Blood-test results

• Medication list

Benefits of Specialized Heart Valve Surgery

Specialized valve care may help:

• Treat severe valve disease

• Restore valve function

• Repair damaged valves

• Replace valves when necessary

• Improve cardiac function

• Manage complex valve conditions

• Provide multidisciplinary surgical planning

• Support postoperative rehabilitation

Why Choose Massachusetts General Hospital for Heart Valve Surgery?

Massachusetts General Hospital's Heart Valve Program provides multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment for patients with heart valve disease, bringing together cardiovascular specialists to develop individualized treatment plans.

Cost & Price on Request

Price: Price on Request

Potential costs may include:

• Cardiology consultation

• Cardiac imaging

• Preoperative testing

• Valve surgery

• Valve replacement or repair

• Anesthesia

• Hospitalization

• Cardiac rehabilitation

• Follow-up care

A personalized cost estimate should be requested according to the patient's treatment plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which heart valves can require surgery?

Surgery may be performed on the aortic, mitral, tricuspid or pulmonary valves, depending on the underlying condition.

2. Can a damaged heart valve be repaired instead of replaced?

Yes. Valve repair may be possible for selected patients depending on the valve's anatomy and type of disease.

3. What is the difference between valve repair and replacement?

Repair preserves the patient's existing valve, while replacement removes the diseased valve and substitutes it with a mechanical or tissue valve.

4. Is minimally invasive heart valve surgery available?

Selected patients may be candidates for minimally invasive valve procedures, depending on their condition and surgical requirements.

5. How much does heart valve surgery cost?

Price is available on request. The final cost depends on the valve condition, procedure, hospital stay, diagnostic testing and follow-up care.