How is valvular heart disease treated?
There are different methods for treating valvular heart disease, and you should discuss your options with your physician. In some cases, no action may be needed and a “wait and see” approach may be used. Your doctor may also prescribe various types of medications that may improve your symptoms. If the disease has progressed, however, your doctor may determine that surgical intervention is appropriate. What surgical procedure is appropriate is a decision that your doctor will make in consultation with you. This is dependent upon such things as which valve or valves need to be addressed, your specific medical conditions, and other factors. In general, there are two surgical options to treat valvular heart disease: one is to repair your native valve; the other is to replace your native valve with a prosthetic valve. There is more than one surgical approach to valve repair and replacement, including “minimal incision,” which involves a smaller incision than the traditional “open chest” app
