| The aortic valve is a one-way valve that opens | | | | to the bottom of the breast bone. |
| into the Aorta, which is the main "pipeline" that | | | | If an aortic valve replacement is what you need, |
| comes out of the heart. There are two basic | | | | these are the reasons WHY you should seek out |
| problems that can affect its function. If it does | | | | a minimally invasive approach and a description of |
| not open properly, the heart will struggle against | | | | HOW we can perform open heart surgery |
| the resistance offered by a closed and stiff valve | | | | through a tiny incision on the right side of the |
| that impairs the ability of the heart to empty out | | | | chest wall (minithoracotomy): |
| when it is contracting. We describe this condition | | | | - No bone cutting at all. The incision opens a tiny |
| as Aortic Valve Stenosis. On the opposite end of | | | | space between two ribs and heals very well. |
| the spectrum the same valve might be "leaky" | | | | Infections in this type of wound are almost |
| and not close well when the heart is reloading in | | | | unheard of. |
| between contractions. That makes the pumping | | | | - No pain. Small amounts of local anesthetic are |
| action of the heart very inefficient because a | | | | injected in between the ribs and make this incision |
| good portion of the oxygenated blood that is | | | | pain free. |
| pumped forward into the main pipeline will leak | | | | - Very little bleeding. This approach avoids the |
| back into the heart. This condition is known as | | | | bleeding caused by bone cutting and by the larger |
| Aortic Valve Insufficiency or Regurgitation. About | | | | incisions used in old fashioned surgery. |
| 6% of the elderly U.S. population and a small | | | | - Fast recovery. Even the elderly and frail patients |
| percentage of the younger population is affected | | | | are back on their feet in less than 24 hours and |
| by these severe malfunctions of the aortic valve | | | | can often go home two days after surgery. |
| and need a life saving operation to replace or | | | | - Excellent cosmetic results. All you have to show |
| repair their valves before it is too late. This article | | | | is a tiny 2" thin scar on the right side of your |
| will outline the reasons why a minimally invasive | | | | chest. You would still be able to wear an open |
| aortic valve replacement is by far the best way | | | | shirt, a blouse or an evening gown and that tiny |
| to address these pathologies. | | | | scar will be completely out of sight.It is a very |
| Unfortunately, most cardiac surgeons have not | | | | safe, accurate and precise way to perform an |
| had the time, the willingness or the opportunity to | | | | aortic valve replacement. |
| learn these new techniques and are still using the | | | | Here is my warm piece of advice. If you need |
| old fashioned splitting of the breast bone (median | | | | open heart surgery ASK about these minimally |
| sternotomy). In addition they end up using blood | | | | invasive options. Be specific about the fact that |
| transfusions in most of their aortic valve patients. | | | | you want a minithoracotomy. If you are not |
| This approach has many disadvantages, including | | | | offered these options it is worthwhile to get a |
| slow wound healing, more wound infections, more | | | | second opinion in a Minimally Invasive Heart |
| postoperative pain and bleeding, a slow recovery | | | | Surgery Center with advanced expertise in this |
| from surgery and a poor cosmetic result with a | | | | type of surgery. After all, it's your body, it's your |
| 12" to 14" midline scar from the base of the neck | | | | heart, it's your life! |