Treatment

Treatment for aortic valve stenosis depends on your signs and symptoms and the severity of the condition.

If you have mild symptoms or none at all, you may only need to have your condition monitored with regular doctor's appointments. Your doctor may recommend healthy lifestyle changes and medications to treat symptoms or reduce the risk of complications.

Surgery or other procedures

You may eventually need surgery to repair or replace the diseased aortic valve, even if you don't have symptoms. Aortic valve surgery may be done at the same time as other heart surgery.

Surgery to repair or replace an aortic valve is usually done through a cut (incision) in the chest. Less invasive approaches may be available. Ask your doctor if you're a candidate for these procedures. Aortic valve surgery may be done at the same time as other heart surgery.

Surgery options for aortic valve stenosis include:

• Aortic valve repair. To repair an aortic valve, surgeons separate valve flaps (cusps) that have fused. However, surgeons rarely repair an aortic valve to treat aortic valve stenosis. Generally aortic valve stenosis requires aortic valve replacement.

• Balloon valvuloplasty. This procedure can treat aortic valve stenosis in infants and children. However, the valve tends to narrow again in adults who've had the procedure, so it's usually only done in adults who are too ill for surgery or who are waiting for a valve replacement, as they typically need additional procedures to treat the narrowed valve over time.

  In this procedure, a doctor inserts a long, thin tube (catheter) with a balloon on the tip into an artery in your arm or groin and guides it to the aortic valve. Once in place, the balloon is inflated, which widens the valve opening. The balloon is then deflated, and the catheter and balloon are removed.

• Aortic valve replacement. Aortic valve replacement is often needed to treat aortic valve stenosis. In aortic valve replacement, your surgeon removes the damaged valve and replaces it with a mechanical valve or a valve made from cow, pig or human heart tissue (biological tissue valve).

  Biological tissue valves break down over time and may eventually need to be replaced. People with mechanical valves will need to take blood-thinning medications for life to prevent blood clots. Your doctor will discuss with you the benefits and risks of each type of valve.

• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This less invasive procedure may be an option for people who are considered to be at intermediate or high risk of complications from surgical aortic valve replacement.

  In TAVR, doctors insert a catheter in your leg or chest and guide it to your heart. A replacement valve is then inserted through the catheter and guided to your heart. A balloon may expand the valve, or some valves can self-expand. When the valve is implanted, doctors remove the catheter from your blood vessel. Doctors may also perform a catheter procedure to insert a replacement valve into a biological tissue valve that is no longer working properly.