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Aortic Valve Regurgitation: Deciding About Surgery

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Overview

You and your doctor can talk about many things to see if you want to have aortic valve replacement surgery. Together, you can weigh the benefits of surgery against your risks.

You may decide to have surgery if the regurgitation is bad enough that it can or has damaged your heart.

To help you decide, your doctor may check:

  • Your overall health.
  • How severe the aortic valve regurgitation is.
  • Your symptoms, if you have any.
  • Your ejection fraction. (This is a measure of how much blood your heart pumps out to your body.)
  • The size of your left ventricle.

If you are having another heart surgery, such as bypass surgery, you may choose to have valve replacement at the same time.

If your condition has been getting worse slowly, you may choose to wait a little longer before you have a valve replacement.

What are the risks of surgery to replace the aortic valve?

The risks vary based on your age and general health. Risks include problems from the surgery, such as bleeding and infection. Other risks include heart attack, stroke, other heart problems, and death. You'll need medicines to prevent blood clots in the new valve. And you may need another valve replacement surgery over time.

Credits

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

The Health Encyclopedia contains general health information. Not all treatments or services described are covered benefits for Kaiser Permanente members or offered as services by Kaiser Permanente. For a list of covered benefits, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or Summary Plan Description. For recommended treatments, please consult with your health care provider.