Aortic Valve Regurgitation

Treatment of aortic valve regurgitation depends on the severity of the blood leakage (regurgitation), symptoms arising from the condition,and the extent the heart function is affected.

• Observation: Cases with mild regurgitation may not need treatment. However, the patient will still require regular check-ups and monitoring by the doctor
• Valve repair: Aortic valve repair is a surgery whereby the surgeons will modify the original valve to bring it to its full functionality.
• Valve replacement:
  
• Mechanical or tissue valve replacement: Many severe cases of aortic valve regurgitation will require the aortic valve to be replaced with a mechanical valve or a tissue valve. Mechanical valves are made from durable metal, while tissue valves may come from a pig, cow or human donor. Before proceeding with the valve replacement surgery, the doctor will discuss with the patient which option is more suitable and the surgery risks involved.
• Minimally invasive procedures: Other less invasive surgical techniques include for Aortic valve replacement are also available. This treatment commonly requires open-heart surgery under general anaesthesia and the use of a heart-lung bypass machine.