Heart valve repair is performed with one of the three types of incisions shown in this illustration. Minimally invasive surgery uses a "mini" incision in the sternum or under the pectoral muscle in your chest to access the heart valve.
Your surgeon may perform one or several of these procedures as he or she repairs your heart valve:
Resize the valve by removing extra tissue
Remove calcium deposits that may have built up around the valve leaflets
Repair the cords that control the movement of the valve leaflets
Reattach the valve to its cords
Add support to the base of the valve (annulus) by adding tissue or by sewing an annulus band or ring around the outside of the valve
After the Procedure
When the heart valve has been repaired and the surgery is completed, your heart will be beating and all incisions will be closed.
Following the surgery, you'll spend some time in the intensive care unit (ICU) where you will be closely monitored to make sure there are no complications. After that, you'll be moved to another room where your family and friends will be able to visit you.