Valve Replacement Surgery: Procedures, Risks, and Recovery Explained

Explore the essentials of heart valve replacement surgery, from preparation to recovery, risks, and choices for optimal heart health.

By Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach

Created on Sep 26, 2025

Explore the essentials of heart valve replacement surgery, from preparation to recovery, risks, and choices for optimal heart health.

What Is Valve Replacement Surgery?

Valve replacement surgery is a procedure performed to replace a malfunctioning heart valve with an artificial or biological valve. When one or more of the heart’s valves are damaged by disease or age, blood may not flow properly through the heart. Timely replacement helps restore normal heart function, alleviates symptoms, and reduces the risk of heart failure and other serious complications.

Why Is It Done?

Severe valve disease: People experience valve problems such as stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (leakage).
Symptoms: Shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling in the legs, fainting, or fatigue signal significant valve dysfunction.
Prevent complications: Unrepaired valve disease increases the risk of heart failure, arrhythmias, and stroke.

Types of Heart Valve Replacement Surgery

Several surgical approaches are available, tailored to the patient’s health status and type of valve disease:

Open-Heart Surgery

Most traditional form of valve replacement.
A long incision is made down the center of the chest, through the breastbone.
The heart is connected to a heart-lung bypass machine that maintains circulation during surgery.
The surgeon removes the damaged valve and sews a new valve into place.
After the heart starts functioning on its own, the chest is closed with wires and dissolvable stitches.
Best suited for patients needing complex repair or multiple valve replacements.

Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS)

Smaller incisions (often 2-3 inches).
May involve tools and cameras for greater precision.
Includes minithoracotomy, ministernotomy, and robot-assisted techniques.
Reduced hospital stay and faster recovery for suitable patients.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Used for aortic valve stenosis, especially in older or high-risk patients.
A guidewire and catheter are threaded through the femoral artery into the heart.
A new valve attached to a balloon is expanded inside the diseased valve without open-heart surgery.
Rapid recovery: most patients go home within 24-48 hours.

Other Specialist Procedures

Valve Repair: Preferred where feasible, preserves the patient’s tissue.
Valve-Sparing Root Replacement (David procedure): Repairs the aorta while preserving the valve.
Ozaki Procedure: Uses tissue from the patient’s pericardium to reconstruct valve leaflets.

Types of Artificial Heart Valves

Surgeons select a new valve from two main categories:

Valve Type	Main Features	Lifespan	Other Considerations
Mechanical valves	Made from durable materials (titanium, carbon, etc.)	Long-lasting (often a lifetime)	Require lifelong blood thinners
Biological valves	Made from human or animal tissue	10–20 years	Usually do not require long-term blood thinners

The choice depends on age, other health issues, and personal preferences.

How to Prepare for Valve Replacement Surgery

Preoperative assessment: Full medical evaluation including blood tests, chest X-rays, echocardiogram, and other imaging.
Medication review: Confirm safe use of blood thinners, diabetes medications, or other chronic medicines.
Inform your surgeon: List all medicines and supplements you take.
Fasting: Usually recommended to stop eating/drinking 8 hours before surgery.
Prepping at home: Arrange for help post-surgery; ready your home for a safe recovery.

What Happens During the Procedure?

Specific stages depend on the chosen technique, but most valve replacement surgeries broadly follow these steps:

You receive general anesthesia to sleep painlessly throughout the operation.
Your heart is accessed through incisions in the chest.
For open-heart procedures, the heart-lung machine takes over pumping blood and oxygen.
The surgeon removes the damaged valve and sutures a new valve into position.
The heart is then restarted and circulation resumes naturally.
Your chest or small incisions are carefully closed.

In the case of TAVR or minimally invasive procedures, you may avoid the heart-lung machine, and your surgical wounds are smaller.

Recovery After Valve Replacement Surgery

Hospital Stay

Open heart: Average of 5–7 days in hospital.
Minimally invasive/TAVR: Some patients return home within 24-48 hours.
ICU monitoring for the first 24–48 hours after surgery.
Pain management and wound care.
Support with breathing, movement, and eating initially.

At Home

Recovery period typically 6–12 weeks for open-heart surgery; shorter for less invasive repairs.
Regular wound checks and prescribed medications (such as blood thinners for mechanical valves).
Cardiac rehabilitation is recommended to help you regain strength and stamina.
Driving and strenuous activity must be avoided for several weeks.

Risks and Complications

Infection: Wound or heart tissue infections may develop.
Bleeding: Increased bleeding risk, especially during open surgery.
Blood clots: Particularly with mechanical valves; managed by blood thinners.
Valve malfunction: Rarely, the new valve may fail.
Arrhythmias: Some patients experience irregular heartbeat post-surgery.
Stroke or heart attack: Serious but uncommon risks.

Your provider will discuss your individual risk based on age, overall heart health, and other conditions.

Living With a New Heart Valve

Regular follow-up visits and imaging to monitor valve function.
Some patients need long-term medication for blood thinning, especially with mechanical valves.
Adopt heart-healthy lifestyle: balanced diet, regular activity, limiting alcohol, and quitting smoking.
Report symptoms of valve failure—such as chest pain, fainting, or swelling—to your care team promptly.
Maintain prescribed dental hygiene to prevent infections that could affect the valve.

When to Call Your Doctor

Signs of infection (fever, chills, redness, or swelling at incision site).
Persistent or severe chest pain.
Shortness of breath that is worsening.
Irregular heartbeat or new palpitations.
Unusual bleeding or bruising.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long does valve replacement surgery take?

Open-heart valve replacement generally lasts 3–6 hours; minimally invasive and TAVR procedures may take less time depending on complexity.

Will I need to take medication after surgery?

Yes, especially if you receive a mechanical valve, lifelong blood-thinning medication helps prevent clots. Short-term pain management and antibiotics may be needed for all patients.

How soon can I return to normal activities?

Light activity may begin in a few weeks, but strenuous exercise or driving is usually delayed 6–12 weeks depending on your recovery progress and type of surgery.

Is valve replacement safe for older adults?

TAVR is especially designed for older or high-risk patients; recovery is generally much faster, and risks are less than traditional open-heart surgery in selected cases.

How will I know if my new valve is working well?

Your heart function will be monitored during follow-up visits using echocardiograms and other imaging tests.

What can I do to protect my new valve?

Take all prescribed medications.
Attend scheduled follow-up appointments.
Practice good dental hygiene.
Adopt a balanced heart-healthy lifestyle.

Conclusion

Valve replacement surgery is a life-saving procedure for patients with severe heart valve disease. Innovations like minimally invasive surgery and TAVR have dramatically improved outcomes, reduced recovery times, and enabled more patients to benefit from treatment. By understanding the options, risks, and recovery process, you and your care team can make informed decisions for long-term heart health.

References

Author

Sneha TeteBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Sneha is a relationships and lifestyle writer with a strong foundation in applied linguistics and certified training in relationship coaching. She brings over five years of writing experience to thebridalbox, crafting thoughtful, research-driven content that empowers readers to build healthier relationships, boost emotional well-being, and embrace holistic living.

Read full bio of Sneha Tete