When Is Heart Valve Surgery Needed? A Patient Guide | Dr. Rafik Soliman
The heart's four valves act as one-way gates. A valve may narrow and obstruct flow, or leak and let blood flow backwards. Many mild cases need only monitoring, while severe disease needs treatment.
Symptoms worth checking
Breathlessness on exertion or lying flat, unusual fatigue, ankle swelling, palpitations, dizziness or fainting, and chest pain. A murmur heard by a doctor may be the first sign, even without symptoms.
Key tests
Echocardiography is the main test to grade severity and heart function. A transoesophageal echo, coronary angiography before surgery, or CT may also be requested.
When is surgery appropriate?
Surgery is usually considered for severe disease with symptoms, or when heart function or lung pressures begin to be affected even with mild symptoms. The surgeon discusses repair or replacement and the right approach with the patient.
Further medical reading
Recent European guidelines emphasise that valve treatment decisions follow careful assessment of severity, symptoms and heart function, made by a multidisciplinary Heart Team together with the patient. This is a general summary, not advice for any individual case, and no operation guarantees a specific outcome.