Newer Heart Valve Surgery Options
New Options for People with Advanced Aortic Stenosis
One important reason to track any possible valve disease-related symptoms and get regular check-ups – especially as we age – is to ensure that any developing valve problems can be fixed at the right time. Unfortunately many people who need heart valve surgery simply do not get diagnosed in time to fix the problem in the best possible way.
Medications can be prescribed to increase the heart’s ability to pump blood which may help compensate for a valve that isn’t working correctly. However, a diseased heart valve is a mechanical problem that cannot be fixed with medication alone, and surgery is often needed to repair or replace the damaged valve. If the faulty valve never gets looked at until the patient realizes it’s a serious medical problem, the diseased valve may have weakened the person so much that open heart surgery to