Aortic Valve Repair, Replacement Surgery

The Heart and Vascular Center is a leader in cardiac surgery for aortic valve repair and replacement.

The aortic valve is one of four heart valves which allow blood to flow forward and close to prevent blood from flowing backward. The aortic valve controls the flow of blood as it leaves the main pumping chamber of the heart (the left ventricle) and is pumped into the aorta and the rest of the body. A valve may need repair or replacement if there is narrowing (stenosis) of the valve opening or leakage (regurgitation), causing blood to flow backward, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood forward efficiently. Aortic valve replacement procedures include traditional surgical aortic valve replacement, which uses an artificial valve for patients with severe aortic stenosis, or transcatheter aortic valve replacement.