Heart Valve Replacement Surgery in India

During an Aortic valve replacement surgery, an incision is made by cutting through the sternum. It is also known as median sternotomy. Following the incision being made, the pericardium is opened and subsequently the patient is placed on a cardiopulmonary bypass machine (heart-lung machine). The machine helps in pumping through the heart while the surgeon replaces the heart valve. Once the patient is on bypass, an incision is made in the aorta and a cross clamp is applied. Thereafter the surgeon removes the diseased aortic valve and replace it with the mechanical one. Once the valve is in place and the aorta has been closed, the patient is taken off from the cardiopulmonary bypass machine. Later, Transesophageal echocardiogram is done to confirm whether the new valve is functioning properly or not.