What happens during heart valve replacement surgery?
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Patients who suffer from aortic stenosis have heart valves that do not fully open. The condition decreases blood flow from the heart, so doctors often recommend surgery to implant a prosthetic valve.
CoreValve, a new minimally invasive system to replace faulty heart valves, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in January 2014.
During the procedure, the physician makes a small incision into a patient’s femoral artery, located in the groin. They then insert the CoreValve device with a catheter, guiding it through the arteries to the site of the narrowed aortic valve in the heart.
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The design of the artificial valve makes it possible to treat patients with a vascular system that is small or difficult to navigate.
Once in place, the CoreValve's self-expanding frame enables physicians to deploy it in a controlled manner, allowing for accurate placement.
The device expands and takes over the original valve's function to ensure that oxygen-rich blood flows efficiently out of the heart and circulates throughout the rest of the body.
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The catheter is removed and the incision in the groin is closed.
After surgery, the doctor will schedule regular follow-up appointments to check the valve.
Click here for more information on CoreValve.