Heart & Vascular

When the valves of the heart collect calcium deposits or no longer close properly, it may be necessary to have them replaced or repaired. After a thorough evaluation, our cardiac care team will recommend the best course of treatment. There are two general types of replacement valves now available: 

• Mechanical Replacement Valves,

  which allow blood to travel in one direction and prevent it from going backwards. 
  
  

• Bioprosthetic Replacement Valves,

  which are made from animal tissue and usually have a lower risk of blood clot formation. 

Minimally Invasive Valve Repair

At Novant Health, our physicians use minimally invasive valve replacement surgery whenever possible because it results in fewer complications and speeds recovery time. You will be tested to find out if you are a candidate for this type of surgery.  

Sometimes, a surgeon can repair the defective valve rather than replace it. If you have mitral valve prolapsed or another type of mitral valve defect, our skilled cardiac surgeons can often repair the problem with a minimally invasive robotic surgery procedure.

Unlike in traditional heart surgeries, the chest does not have to be opened. Your surgeon operates from a special computer console that controls highly precise robotic surgical tools. This up-to-the-minute technology uses smaller incisions compared to traditional valve surgeries resulting in:

• Less bleeding
• Fewer complications
• Less pain after surgery
• Faster recovery

Want to learn more? Please call toll-free 1-866-562-6502.