Heart Valve Surgery in Turkey: Procedures, Recovery & Care

What is a heart valve replacement?

Heart valve replacement involves removing a damaged or malfunctioning valve and replacing it with a new one to restore normal blood flow through the heart. The most commonly replaced valves are the aortic valve, mitral valve, and, in some cases, the tricuspid or pulmonary valve.

There are two main types of replacement valves:

• Mechanical valves: extremely durable but require lifelong blood-thinning medication.
• Biological valves: made from animal or human tissue, usually don't require long-term anticoagulation but may have a shorter lifespan.

The choice of valve depends on your age, overall health, and the specific nature of your valve disease.

Thanks to modern techniques like TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) or minimally invasive heart surgery, the procedure can be far less invasive than traditional open-heart surgery, with shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times.

Indications: When is heart valve replacement needed?

Heart valve replacement becomes necessary when a valve can no longer regulate blood flow properly. This can result from various valve disorders, often detected through diagnostic tests such as echocardiography or cardiac catheterization.

Common warning signs include:

• Shortness of breath, especially during activity or when lying down.
• Swelling in the legs or abdomen.
• Palpitations or irregular heartbeat.
• Persistent fatigue, even after adequate rest.
• Chest pain or dizziness.

Common causes that may require valve surgery:

• Aortic stenosis: narrowing of the aortic valve that restricts blood flow.
• Age-related valve degeneration or calcification.
• Congenital valve defects: malformations present from birth.
• Mitral regurgitation: leakage of the mitral valve, allowing blood to flow backward into the atrium.

Identifying these signs early allows doctors to choose the most appropriate approach: traditional open-heart surgery, minimally invasive surgery, or TAVI and reduce the risk of complications.

Heart valve replacement techniques

Several techniques are now available to replace a heart valve. The choice depends on which valve needs to be replaced, the patient's overall health, and the surgical risk involved:

How is the procedure performed?

Heart valve replacement is a complex surgery that follows several stages, from preoperative preparation to recovery.

Before the surgery, thorough preparation is essential to ensure the heart and body are ready and to minimize surgical risks. This typically includes diagnostic imaging such as CT scans and echocardiography, blood tests, adjustment of blood-thinning medications, and comprehensive consultations with cardiologists and anesthesiologists.

During the procedure (usually 3–6 hours),the surgeon follows a series of precise steps, which vary depending on the patient's condition and the type of valve replacement, open-heart surgery, minimally invasive surgery, or TAVI:

1. General anesthesia to ensure comfort and safety.
2. Access to the heart via a full chest opening or a small incision, depending on the technique.
3. Cardiopulmonary bypass to maintain blood circulation during the surgery (not required for TAVI).
4. Removal of the damaged valve and implantation of a mechanical or biological replacement valve.
5. Verification of the valve's function and sealing before closing the incision.

Recovery & life after heart valve surgery

After heart valve surgery, proper follow-up is essential to ensure complete healing and prevent complications. Most patients spend one to two days in intensive care for close monitoring of the heart and the new valve, followed by several days in a regular hospital room, depending on their overall condition.

Return to daily activities is gradual and typically takes four to eight weeks, though recovery may be faster after minimally invasive surgery or TAVI. Regular cardiology check-ups, including medication adjustments and echocardiograms, help ensure the valve continues to function properly.

With Turquie Santé, you benefit from personalized support. Our experienced cardiologists guide you through every step of recovery, helping you safely regain an active, healthy life.

Risks, possible complications & success rate

As with any heart surgery, complications can occur, but they remain rare thanks to the experience of the surgical teams and strict protocols.

• Bleeding: Can happen during or after surgery. Surgical teams monitor patients closely and adjust medications to minimize risk.
• Infection: May affect the surgical site or the heart. Strict hygiene protocols and preventive antibiotics make infections uncommon.
• Arrhythmia: Temporary irregular heart rhythms can occur. They are quickly detected and treated with medication or intervention if needed.
• Stroke (rare): Very uncommon but possible. Close monitoring and careful management of risk factors help prevent it.
• Complications from anticoagulants (mechanical valves): Patients must strictly follow blood-thinning treatment to avoid bleeding or clot formation.

The partner centers of Turquie Santé follow strict protocols to prevent complications and ensure patient safety.