Aortic Valve Stenosis

Your doctor will likely recommend valve replacement surgery if you have symptoms of aortic valve stenosis, unless you have other health problems that make surgery too risky. Most of the time, valve replacement surgery has a high rate of success and a low risk of causing other problems.

Reference Balloon valvuloplasty is a less invasive procedure than surgery. It may be an option for some younger people who have aortic valve stenosis. This procedure might be done in older adults who cannot have valve replacement surgery. Although the heart valve is not replaced, the narrowed opening is made larger.

Aortic valve replacement surgery

Reference Aortic valve replacement surgery is either an open-heart surgery or a Reference minimally invasive surgery. In an aortic valve replacement surgery, the damaged valve is removed and replaced with an artificial valve (mechanical or tissue).

View a Reference slideshow on aortic valve replacement surgery Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window. To learn more about this decision, see:

Opens New Window Aortic Valve Stenosis: Should I Have Surgery? Opens New Window

If you decide to have surgery, you and your doctor will decide which type of valve is right for you. For help with this decision, see:

Opens New Window Heart Valve Problems: Should I Choose a Mechanical Valve or Tissue Valve to Replace My Heart Valve? Opens New Window

Bypass surgery with valve replacement surgery

If you are going to have valve replacement surgery, your doctor may suggest that you have a Reference coronary angiogram/catheterization test. This test can show if you have blockages in your Reference coronary arteries Opens New Window (as part of coronary artery disease). If you have serious blockages, your doctor may want to do a Reference coronary artery bypass surgery Opens New Window at the same time as the valve replacement surgery. For more information, see Reference Aortic Valve Stenosis: Treatment with Other Heart Diseases.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement is a new way to replace an aortic valve. It does not require open-heart surgery. It is a minimally invasive procedure that uses catheters in blood vessels to replace the aortic valve with a specially designed artificial valve. The catheters are inserted through small cuts in the groin.

This procedure is available in a small number of hospitals. And it is not right for everyone. It might be done for a person who cannot have surgery to replace his or her valve. For example, it might be an option if you are not healthy enough for an open-heart surgery. Although this procedure is minimally invasive, it has serious risks including stroke, kidney problems, and death.^{Reference 2}

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This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.