Valve surgery can involve repair or replacement of a diseased heart valve. The correct strategy depends on the valve involved, disease severity, anatomy, symptoms, cardiac function, age, other conditions and whether a transcatheter option is also appropriate.
Heart Team and Heart Valve Centre
The 2025 ESC/EACTS valvular-heart-disease guidelines emphasize Heart Team decision-making and specialist Heart Valve Centres for complex disease. International patients should therefore seek a center able to compare surgical and catheter-based options rather than promoting one technique for everyone.
Records commonly useful for review
Valve treatment planning relies heavily on imaging and previous cardiac history.
- Recent echocardiography with images when available
- Transesophageal echo report if performed
- Cardiac CT or MRI if already available
- Coronary assessment when relevant
- Previous cardiac surgery or intervention reports
- Current medication list and major medical conditions
Repair, replacement and transcatheter options
The available choices differ by valve and anatomy. A center should explain whether repair is feasible, whether replacement is needed, and whether a transcatheter approach should also be considered in the individual case.
Plan the period after surgery
International patients should clarify expected length of stay, rehabilitation, anticoagulation or other medication, wound care, follow-up imaging and the minimum period recommended before long-distance travel.
Sources and review
This guide was last source-reviewed on 2026-08-29.