A minimally invasive aortic valve replacement is a surgery to replace a poorly working aortic valve with an artificial valve without the need for open heart surgery. The surgery is called minimally invasive because it uses a smaller cut (incision) than a traditional open repair.

The aortic valve is one of four valves that control blood flow in the heart. It separates the lower left heart chamber (left ventricle) and the body's main artery (aorta).

When the heart squeezes (contracts), the aortic valve opens and lets blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta. When the heart relaxes, the aortic valve closes to prevent blood from moving backward.

A diseased or damaged aortic valve can interfere with blood flow and force the heart to work harder to send blood to the rest of the body. Aortic valve repair or aortic valve replacement can improve blood flow, reduce symptoms of heart valve disease and prolong life.

Types of aortic valve disease that may require treatment with aortic valve repair or replacement include:

• Aortic valve regurgitation. Blood flows backward through the aortic valve into the heart's main pumping chamber (left ventricle). Aortic valve regurgitation may result from a leaky or dysfunctional valve. Any condition that damages the aortic valve can cause regurgitation. Sometimes, a baby is born with an irregularly shaped aortic valve (congenital heart defect) that leads to regurgitation.



• Aortic valve stenosis. The aortic valve is narrowed or blocked. It's hard for the valve to open properly. The heart must work harder to pump blood into the aorta. Aortic valve stenosis may be caused by a heart condition present at birth (congenital heart defect). An infection called rheumatic fever may lead to inflammation that damages the heart valve (rheumatic heart disease).

Minimally invasive heart surgery may involve a shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery and less pain than traditional open-heart surgery. What type of valve surgery you have depends on your individual situation. For example, some people with aortic valve disease may not be candidates for traditional open-heart surgery due to other health problems, such as lung or kidney disease, that would make the procedure too risky.