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Heart valve surgeries are performed in cases of narrowing (stenosis) or insufficiency detected in one or more heart valves. The heart is a powerful muscular pump that continuously circulates 5-7 liters of blood throughout the body, meaning an average of 7,500 liters of blood is pumped daily. Heart valves are structures that ensure blood flow moves in a single direction between the heart's four chambers (aortic, mitral, tricuspid, pulmonary).
Narrowing in the valves makes it difficult for blood to pass, while valve insufficiency causes blood to leak backward, increasing the heart's workload. In both situations, the heart muscle is strained, the chambers enlarge, and an enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) occurs. If left untreated, the heart's normal functions deteriorate, and heart failure develops. Heart valve diseases are most commonly seen in the mitral and aortic valves.
The two main conditions requiring surgical intervention are:
* Stenosis (Narrowing): Obstruction of blood flow due to the valve not opening sufficiently.
* Insufficiency (Regurgitation): Backflow of blood due to the valve not closing completely.
Heart valve surgeries are performed by cardiovascular surgeons. Typically, open-heart surgery is required to access the diseased valve; in this case, the heart is temporarily stopped using a heart-lung machine. The surgeon may replace the diseased valve with an artificial one (replacement), but especially for mitral and tricuspid valves, they prefer to repair it (plasty) if possible. In elderly patients, the most common cause of valve diseases is narrowing due to the thickening and calcification of the valve leaflets.
In which diseases is heart valve replacement surgery applied?
Narrowing in the valves makes it difficult for blood to pass, while valve insufficiency causes blood to leak backward, increasing the heart's workload. In both situations, the heart muscle is strained, the chambers enlarge, and an enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) occurs. If left untreated, the heart's normal functions deteriorate, and heart failure develops. Heart valve diseases are most commonly seen in the mitral and aortic valves.
The two main conditions requiring surgical intervention are:
* Stenosis (Narrowing): Obstruction of blood flow due to the valve not opening sufficiently.
* Insufficiency (Regurgitation): Backflow of blood due to the valve not closing completely.
Heart valve surgeries are performed by cardiovascular surgeons. Typically, open-heart surgery is required to access the diseased valve; in this case, the heart is temporarily stopped using a heart-lung machine. The surgeon may replace the diseased valve with an artificial one (replacement), but especially for mitral and tricuspid valves, they prefer to repair it (plasty) if possible. In elderly patients, the most common cause of valve diseases is narrowing due to the thickening and calcification of the valve leaflets.