Aortic valve surgery is a life-saving treatment for aortic valve disease. A surgeon repairs or replaces the valve that connects your heart to your aorta. This improves heart function in people who have a narrowed or leaky aortic valve. Surgical approaches include open-heart surgery and minimally invasive surgery (smaller incisions).
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Aortic valve surgery is a treatment for aortic valve disease. It involves repairing or replacing your aortic valve. This “door” manages blood flow from your heart’s main pumping chamber (left ventricle) into your main artery (aorta).
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Aortic valve disease prevents your aortic valve from working as it should. Your valve opening may be too narrow, which limits how much blood can flow through. Or, your valve may be leaky, which means some blood flows backward each time your valve closes. Some people are born with congenital heart defects that may affect valve function.
Aortic valve surgery can address these issues and lower your risk of complications of valve disease. These include heart failure and cardiac arrest.
Cardiac surgeons perform aortic valve surgery to treat:
Nonsurgical treatments like medications may help manage your aortic valve disease for a long time. However, you may need surgery if you have symptoms, evidence of heart damage or heart failure.
There are two main types of aortic valve surgery:
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Many factors determine the type of surgery you need, including:
Your surgeon will talk to you about your options and explain the most appropriate treatment plan for you.
Your provider may order preoperative (“pre-op”) tests before your surgery. Possible tests include:
Your provider will give you instructions that you should follow closely. These instructions will tell you:
Ask your provider if anything is unclear. It’s important to understand exactly what you need to do before your surgery.
To perform aortic valve surgery, your surgeon and care team will:
The exact details of your surgery depend on the surgical approach.
Approaches to aortic valve repair or replacement surgery include:
The most appropriate method for you depends on many factors, including:
Your surgeon will talk to you about the approach that’s best for you, and why.
Here’s what you can expect after your surgery:
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Aortic valve surgery is life-saving. It fixes problems with your heart valve that, over time, could be fatal without treatment. Aortic valve disease is the deadliest form of valve disease. It accounts for over 60% of all deaths from any type of valve disease.
Therefore, surgery to repair or replace your aortic valve can help you live longer. It can also relieve symptoms so you feel better day-to-day and have an improved quality of life.
Like all surgeries, aortic valve surgery has some risks. Possible complications include:
Risks are higher for some people compared to others. Factors that influence your risk for complications include:
Talk to your provider about your individual level of risk and how to lower it.
Recovery from heart valve surgery generally takes four to eight weeks. It may be shorter if you have minimally invasive surgery.
You can expect to feel tired for a few weeks after your surgery. That’s normal, and it’s important not to push yourself. However, it’s also important to follow your provider’s guidance for exercise, including cardiac rehab. A gradual, safe return to movement will support your recovery and long-term health.
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Your provider will tell you when it’s safe to:
Remember that each person’s recovery is unique. Try not to compare your recovery or how you’re feeling to others who’ve had heart surgery. If you need more time to feel normal again, that’s OK. Give your body the time it needs to rest and heal.
Some people experience depression after heart surgery. This is common and treatable. Talk to your healthcare provider or a counselor if you have symptoms of depression. These may include feeling very sad or hopeless or losing interest in your usual activities.
Call your healthcare provider if you have signs of complications, such as:
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of aortic valve surgery in your unique situation. Make sure you understand exactly what’s involved and what your outlook will be after the surgery. You may also want to ask your surgeon about the number of surgeries they’ve performed and their success rate. Having surgery at a high-volume hospital that commonly treats aortic valve disease can help you get the best possible outcome.
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As you plan your surgery, talk to your family and friends about it. Offer them chances to help you prepare and recover. Having a support system close by can aid your physical and emotional recovery from this major life event.
Last reviewed on 08/23/2023.
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