Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery

Aortic Valve Replacement at The Keyhole Heart Clinic

Top heart surgeon Mr Inderpaul Birdi has been performing aortic valve surgery and keyhole aortic valve replacement surgery for more than 18 years which means that we are uniquely experienced to provide patients with an alternative procedure for their heart condition that has many benefits both in the short and long term.

Keyhole aortic valve surgery is a safe and effective procedure to perform in expert hands, which means that the speed of recovery takes days rather than months. The keyhole incisions have been shown to minimise the risk of infection and bleeding compared to the traditional full breastbone split. If you suffer from Aortic Valve Stenosis or Aortic Regurgitation, minimally invasive aortic valve surgery could be the right approach for your long-term health. Book an appointment with our expert medical team today for a detailed consultation.

Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery

Aortic valve replacement surgery can be performed through keyhole (minimally invasive) incisions that either divide only a very small portion of the breastbone (Ministernotomy), but in many cases we can now avoid breast bone division altogether by making a small cut between the ribs on the right side of the chest (Anterior Right Thoracotomy or ART). The advantages are quicker healing, better breathing, and swifter discharge from hospital. Patients’ also love the improved cosmetic look of the incision. Our expert medical team will help you decide which approach is best for you.

Heart surgery has come a long way in recent years thanks to innovations in procedures and we have been pioneers of keyhole aortic valve surgery. With advancements in surgical equipment used and the technique in general, minimally invasive aortic valve surgery is recognised as a proven procedure with results that speak for themselves. Healing in days rather than months, minimal scarring that can easily be concealed and having the option of avoiding the breaking of the breastbone altogether, makes our approach understandably appealing to many patients.

Below is a comparison of some of the main techniques and how they differ for the patient in terms of results:

With traditional methods being far more intrusive and taking much longer to recover from, as well as being less cosmetically appealing, we generally prefer  to offer patients the minimally invasive aortic valve replacement surgery approach to suitable patients. During your consultation, our medical experts who have 15 years’ experience with keyhole aortic valve surgery, will be able to best determine whether our technique will provide the solution you’re looking for. We understand that receiving the news you need to undergo heart surgery can leave you with many questions and concerns. Our main clinic is located in Harley Street London. We also offer The Keyhole Essex Heart Clinic and The Keyhole Nottingham Clinic, where we have teams who can assist you with  your diagnosis and treatment.

TAVR Heart Procedure

In high-risk patients who are not suitable for any type of heart surgery, an alternative treatment called Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVI or TAVR) can be used as a way to offer patients some relief from their symptoms without the need for surgery.

The ongoing limitation of TAVR is the risk of leaks around the edge of the new valve, and the lack of long-term durability of TAVR valves, which make them unsuitable for patients who need a good result beyond 3 to 5 years. Therefore, the best treatment in patients who are fit enough for heart surgery is still surgical replacement.

How Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery Helps Our Patients

Being able to offer a better alternative to traditional methods of heart surgery provides enhanced choice for patients with a recent diagnosis. Keyhole aortic valve surgery allows patients to live a better life for longer whilst not having to undergo intrusive methods. Receiving a diagnosis is difficult enough, but learning you’ll need to undergo a traditional sternotomy as well may leave you feeling even more anxious and concerned about the surgery.

We believe that the keyhole aortic valve surgery procedure is much more beneficial for patients and having this option can help to alleviate the worries you may have about having a major operation. Knowing that you won’t need to undergo a break of your breastbone to access the heart in the traditional way, and instead, a smaller, much less intrusive surgical procedure is performed, will help reduce some of this worry. Once the surgery is completed, you’ll also be able to return to your normal life much quicker than through other procedures. With a greatly reduced recovery time, you will spend less time healing and more time enjoying the benefits undergoing life-changing keyhole aortic valve surgery can bring.

Sutureless Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery

These valves are essentially the same as traditional tissue valves and we believe that the long-term durability of the prosthesis is excellent. The advantage of these valves lies in the fact that they can be deployed very swiftly. This makes them very suitable for patients who need a swift operation to reduce the risk of surgery. They also facilitate minimally invasive AVR procedures because of their ease and speed of deployment.

Enquire Today About Aortic Valve Surgery

To find out if keyhole aortic valve replacement surgery is right for your condition, please contact us to find out more. We can help by arranging an appointment in our London heart clinic, or alternatively, we can arrange for a remote consultation if this is more convenient for your circumstances. You’ll need to provide some short details including your telephone and email address, and we will be able to get back to you quickly.

Want to learn more about The Keyhole Heart Clinic and our services and experience? We have further information in our Conditions section as well as more details on our other Services including heart screening and our second opinion service. To hear from our expert medical team including advice and insight, please see our helpful Videos section as well as read about what our patients have experienced in our Testimonials.