Valve replacement cost in India – 4900 USD / 343000 INR

Overview

Heart is a muscle that works as a Pumping machine which pumps blood to all parts of your body. The blood provides oxygen and nourishment your body needs to work properly.

It has Four chambers. The upper two chambers are called the left and right atria, and the lower two chambers are called the left and right ventricles. The valves between each of the heart's pumping chambers keep blood flowing forward through the heart.

• Tricuspid valve: It is located between the right atrium (top chamber) and right ventricle (bottom chamber). It enables  blood to flow in a forward direction from the right atrium to the ventricle.
• Pulmonary valve: The pulmonary valve separates the pulmonary artery, which carries blood to the lungs for oxidation, and the right ventricle, which is one of the heart’s chambers. It allows the blood to flow from the heart to the lungs through the pulmonary artery.
• Mitral valve: It is located on the left side of the heart. It serves as an inflow valve. It enables  blood from the left atrium to flow into the left ventricle.
• Aortic valve: It is on the left side of the heart and serves as an outflow valve. It allows  blood to leave the left ventricle,

When valves are damaged and do not work the way they should,  they may need  repair or replacement. Conditions that may cause heart valve dysfunction are valve stiffness(stenosis ) and leaky valve(regurgitation valve).

 

What is heart valve disease?

Heart valves can have one of two diseases:

• Regurgitation: In this disease, the valve(s) does not close completely, causing the blood to flow backwards instead of flowing forward through the valve.
• Stenosis: In this disease, the valve(s) opening becomes narrowed or does not form properly, inhibiting the flow of blood out of the ventricle or atria. Your heart is forced to pump blood with increased force in order to move blood through the stiff (stenotic) valve(s).

Heart valves can have both diseases at the same time (regurgitation and stenosis). Implications for the heart can be serious if your heart valves fail to open and close properly, possibly hampering the heart’s ability to pump blood adequately through the body. One cause of heart failure can be heart valve problems.

What is valve replacement?

Severe valve damage means the valve must be replaced and most often involves the aortic or mitral valve. It can also be used to treat any valve disease that is life-threatening. Some of the patients may need more than one valve repaired or replaced.

There are two kinds of valves that can be used for replacement:

• Mechanical valves: These valves are usually made from plastic, carbon, or metal. Mechanical valves are stronger than biological valves, and they last for a long time. Patients with these valves will need to take blood-thinning medicines (called anticoagulants) for the rest of their lives Because blood tends to stick to mechanical valves and create blood clots.
• Biological valves:  These valves are made from animal tissue (called a xenograft) or taken from the human tissue of a donated heart (called an allograft or homograft). Sometimes, a patient’s own tissue can be used for valve replacement (called an autograft). Biological valves don’t increase your risk of developing blood clots. This means you won’t need to take anti-clotting medication. These valves are not as strong as mechanical valves, though, and they may need to be replaced every 10 years or so. Biological valves break down even faster in children and young adults, so these valves are used most often in elderly patients.

You and your doctor can decide which type of valve is best for you.

While performing heart repair or replacement surgery, the breastbone is divided, the heart is stopped, and blood is sent through a heart-lung machine. Because the heart or the aorta must be opened, heart valve surgery is mostly open heart surgery.

Reason for valve replacement surgery?

Valve replacement surgery is done to correct the problems caused by one or more diseased heart valves. If your heart valve(s) becomes damaged, you may observe following symptoms:

• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Breathing difficulties
• Palpitations
• Edema (swelling) of the feet, ankles, or abdomen (belly)
• Rapid weight gain due to fluid retention

Your healthcare provider  may  suggest other reasons for heart valve repair or replacement surgery.