Valve replacement surgery

Aortic valve

Aortic valve disease is often degenerative. The incidence of aortic valve disease has increased within recent years, judging from the higher number of older patients with the disease. The average patient age is currently 70. There are several options for aortic valve replacement. In most cases, mechanical valve prostheses are available. Provided that the heart rate is steady, biological (stented, sutureless, stentless) prostheses have the advantage of not requiring anti coagulation drugs. In the case of mechanical prostheses, anti coagulation drugs are required for life. For patients over 65 years of age, we recommend biological prosthesis implants.

Increasingly, younger patients prefer biological prostheses. We estimate the service life of the newer prosthetic models to be over 15 years. Furthermore, we have had excellent results with aortic valve replacement repeat operations (second or third valve replacement surgery). Biological prosthesis implants for patients under 65 are therefore an option.

By employing a special technique, we are also able to repair certain aortic valve impairments. In cases of aortic valve insufficiency (valvular regurgitation), we focus on reconstruction (repair) of the aortic valve itself (aortic valvuloplasty). This operation will be performed on patients under 65 years of age as it will avoid implantation of a mechanical prosthesis and therefore life-long use of anti-coagulant drugs.

The preferred option for treating isolated aortic valve disease is via minimally-invasive surgery (without opening the sternum).

In collaboration with the Brussels Heart Centre Cardiology department, we offer replacement of the aortic valve by a prosthetic (TAVI, transcatheter aortic valve implantation). This operation is performed via a very small incision in the thorax (transapical, directly transaortic, subclavicular), neck (carotid artery) or groin through the femoral artery (transfemoral). These operations are carried out in the cardiovascular hybrid operating theatre.

Mitral valve

Mitral valve operations constitute one of the priorities of the Heart Surgery department of the Brussels Heart Centre. In cases of substantial mitral valve insufficiency (valvular regurgitation), we concentrate on reconstruction (repair) of the mitral valve itself (mitral valvuloplasty). Mitral valve replacement via implantation of an artificial (mechanical or biological) valve is one of the options available in cases of mitral valve disease. The preferred option for treating isolated mitral valve insufficiency is via minimally-invasive surgery (without opening the sternum). Arrhythmia linked to mitral valve disease can be treated at the same time (ablation procedure).

Tricuspid valve

In cases of significant tricuspid valve insufficiency (valvular regurgitation), we place particular focus on reconstruction (repair) of the tricuspid valve itself (tricuspid valvuloplasty). Replacement of the tricuspid valve by an artificial valve implant is an option in some forms of tricuspid valve disease (stenosis, endocarditis). The preferred option for treating tricuspid valve insufficiency is via minimally-invasive techniques (without opening the sternum). Tricuspid valve insufficiency linked to mitral valve disease can be treated at the same time during operation on the mitral valve.