Heart valve disease affects about 2.5% of the U.S. population.1 Most of these people live long and active lives and never need surgery but when the heart can no longer pump enough blood throughout the body, a heart valve may need replacement.2

But You Are Not Alone…

That’s the total number of patients worldwide that undergo valve replacement.3

Heart Valve Replacement Facts

%

40% of all heart valve replacements occur before the age of 703

%
60% of all valves replaced are aortic valves3
%

36% of all valves replaced are mitral valves3

Common Causes for Valve Replacement

Here you see what a normal functioning heart looks like, with arrows indicating typical blood flow through the aortic and mitral valves. Click on the images below to learn about common causes for aortic and mitral valve replacement.

Click on the images below to learn about common causes for aortic and mitral valve replacement.

Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR)

Aortic Valve Stenosis

Occurs when the aortic valve does not open all the way, restricting the forward flow of blood to the body, making the heart work harder. Symptoms can include chest pain, fatigue and shortness of breath.4

Aortic Valve Regurgitation

Occurs when the aortic valve does not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the heart instead of pumping out. Also known as aortic insufficiency or incompetence. Symptoms often don't occur until heart failure develops. They include chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting.4

Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Occurs when your aortic valve only has only two leaflets, instead of the normal three.4 This is a condition that patients are born with and may lead to heart damage, and potentially heart failure.
Mitral Valve Replacement (MVR)

Mitral Valve Stenosis

Occurs when the mitral valve narrows restricting blood flow, into the left ventricle, the main pumping chamber of your heart. Symptoms can include fatigue, shortness of breath, swollen feet or legs, or dizziness.5

Mitral Valve Regurgitation

Occurs when the mitral valve does not close tightly, allowing blood to flow backward into the heart. Also known as mitral insufficiency or incompetence. Symptoms can include fatigue or shortness of breath.6

Valve Replacement Procedures

If your heart valve needs to be replaced, your doctors may discuss the procedure options shown below.

Open
Sternotomy

Open-HeartOpen-Heart
Also known as traditional heart surgery or open-heart surgery, requires an incision in the chest to expose the heart.

Mini or Hemi
Sternotomy

Semi-Hemo-SternotomySemi-Hemo-Sternotomy
Minimally invasive surgical approach that requires a small incision in the chest to access the heart.

Right Aortic
Thoracotomy

Right-Thoractomy-aorticRight-Thoractomy-aortic

Right Mitral
Thoracotomy

Right-ThoractomyRight-Thoractomy

Minimally invasive surgical approach that allows access to the heart from between the ribs.

READ MORE ABOUT MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY WITH ON-X HEART VALVES
Q

Surgical aortic and mitral valve replacement with On-X Heart Valves can include a minimally invasive approach – the Mini (Hemi) Sternotomy or Right Thoracotomy procedures shown in the images are two common minimally invasive approaches. These procedures use a smaller incision than a traditional open-heart surgery, or Open Sternotomy, and have the potential for the following outcomes:

  • Shorter hospital stays1
  • Quicker recovery and rehabilitation1
  • Better cosmetic results1

Minimally invasive aortic and mitral valve replacement can be done using an On-X Aortic or Mitral Valve, but it is important to note that this surgery should be performed by a surgeon familiar with this technique. To find a surgeon in your area who implants On-X Heart Valves with a minimally invasive approach, visit our On-X Surgeon Finder here.

1. Kaczmarczyk M, et al. Kardiochirurgia i TorakochirurgiaPolska = Polish Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery 2015;12(2):103-110.

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READ MORE ABOUT MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY WITH
ON-X HEART VALVES
Q

Surgical aortic and mitral valve replacement with On-X Heart Valves can include a minimally invasive approach – the Mini (Hemi) Sternotomy or Right Thoracotomy procedures shown in the images are two common minimally invasive approaches. These procedures use a smaller incision than a traditional open-heart surgery, or Open Sternotomy, and have the potential for the following outcomes:

  • Shorter hospital stays1
  • Quicker recovery and rehabilitation1
  • Better cosmetic results1

Minimally invasive aortic and mitral valve replacement can be done using an On-X Aortic or Mitral Valve, but it is important to note that this surgery should be performed by a surgeon familiar with this technique. To find a surgeon in your area who implants On-X Heart Valves with a minimally invasive approach, visit our On-X Surgeon Finder here.

1. Kaczmarczyk M, et al. Kardiochirurgia i TorakochirurgiaPolska = Polish Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery 2015;12(2):103-110.

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Click Here to View References
Q

Home Page

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Valvular Heart Disease. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/valvular_disease.htm. Accessed 04/27/2021.
  2. American Heart Association. Your Heart Valve Treatment Options. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-valve-problems-and-disease/understanding-your-heart-valve-treatment-options. Accessed 05/04/2021.
  3. Data on file: Global Valve Market Assessment.
  4. Mayo Clinic. Common Causes for Aortic Valve Replacement. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/aortic-valve-repair-aortic-valve-replacement/about/pac-20385093. Accessed 05/04/2021.
  5. Mayo Clinic. Mitral Valve Stenosis Symptoms and Causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mitral-valve-stenosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353159. Accessed 05/04/2021.
  6. Mayo Clinic. Mitral Valve Disease Regurgitation Symptoms and Causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mitral-valve-regurgitation/symptoms-causes/syc-20350178. Accessed 05/04/2021.

 

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