Expert Heart Valve Treatment for Long-Term Cardiac Health

Heart surgeons at Vejthani Hospital are highly experienced in both complex and minimally invasive heart valve repair and replacement procedures. Heart valve problems that benefit from surgery include congenital valve disorders, leaky valves that do not close properly (regurgitation), infected valves, and narrowed valves that do not open fully (stenosis).

Our cardiac surgeons in Bangkok aim to repair malfunctioning heart valves before opting for total heart valve replacement. Heart valve repair may involve sewing damaged valve flaps or strengthening the “ring” that holds the valve in place. If valve repair is not a viable option, our trained cardiac surgeons can perform heart surgery to replace the faulty heart valve(s) with an artificial or biological one based on a case-by-case assessment.

At Vejthani Hospital, our cardiac surgeons regularly take on challenging cases, such as those that involve the repair or replacement of more than one heart valve at a time, or they perform “revision” operations to correct unsuccessful valve surgeries. Many of our patients are considered high-risk, including people who have had several prior heart surgeries, those with co-existing medical conditions, elderly and overweight patients.

Heart Valve Surgery

Our surgeons are highly trained to perform a full suite of complex procedures, as follows:

Aortic Valve Regurgitation Treatment

• Repair: Aortic valve repair typically focuses on reshaping the valve leaflets or tightening the surrounding structures to improve their coaptation. In certain cases, surgeons may reconstruct parts of the valve using the patient’s own pericardial tissue. This option is often chosen for younger patients or those with congenital abnormalities, where preserving native tissue offers better long-term durability.

• Replacement: When the valve is severely damaged or calcified to be repaired, aortic valve replacement becomes necessary. This can be done via traditional surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), a major open-heart surgery that involves making an incision in the chest to access the heart. Surgeons decide whether to use a biological valve or a mechanical valve, each having its own advantages and disadvantages. Factors like age, personal preferences, and specific medical needs play a crucial role in determining the most suitable valve replacement.

• Non-surgical treatment: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) offers a scarless, catheter-based solution for severe aortic stenosis. The procedure involves inserting a balloon-expandable valve through the femoral artery, reducing pain and accelerating recovery. It is primarily reserved for elderly patients or those at high surgical risk.

Mitral Valve Regurgitation Treatment

• Repair: Mitral valve repair involves delicate techniques to reshape and tighten the valve to restore its function. The procedure often includes chordal reconstruction or shortening, as well as implantation of an annuloplasty ring to stabilize the valve opening. This is usually the preferred approach when the valve anatomy is favorable, offering better long-term outcomes and fewer complications than replacement.  

• Replacement: In cases of extensive valve damage or severe calcification, replacement with a mechanical or tissue valve is necessary. Mitral valve replacement may involve excising the diseased valve and implanting a prosthetic one via open-heart surgery, however some cases may qualify for a minimally invasive approach. The procedure ensures the restoration of one-way blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. 

Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation Treatment

• Repair: Tricuspid valve repair aims to restore valve competency by reshaping or suturing the leaflets and applying an annuloplasty ring to reinforce the valve’s perimeter. This procedure is commonly chosen when the regurgitation results from annular dilation due to right-sided heart strain rather than primary valve disease. It’s frequently performed alongside mitral or aortic valve surgery.  

• Replacement: When the valve is irreparably damaged—often due to endocarditis or previous failed repair—tricuspid valve replacement may be indicated. A specially designed mechanical or tissue valve is used to accommodate the lower pressure environment on the right side of the heart. The procedure is technically complex and often reserved for patients with severe symptoms unresponsive to medical treatment or repair.

Pulmonary Valve Treatment

• Repair: Pulmonary valve repair often involves reshaping the valve leaflets or using a patch to widen a narrowed opening, particularly in cases stemming from congenital heart disease. Annuloplasty may also be applied to support the valve ring. Repair is typically considered for younger patients or those with isolated right-sided valve defects.  

• Replacement: Pulmonary valve replacement is most often indicated in patients with congenital defects, such as Tetralogy of Fallot, or after previous surgical repairs that have degenerated. The valve may be replaced with a homograft (human donor valve), bioprosthetic valve, or a transcatheter pulmonary valve, depending on the anatomy and prior interventions. This helps restore normal blood flow from the right ventricle to the lungs.  
• Additional Procedures:  Treatment may also include clot removal in patients with pulmonary hypertension or right heart dysfunction, which can alleviate pressure on the valve and improve overall heart function.

Minimally Invasive Heart Valve Surgery

Minimally invasive valve surgery is an advanced approach for treating heart valve disease with less trauma and quicker recovery. Instead of opening the chest by making a large incision through the breastbone (sternum), this approach uses specialized instruments to perform the procedure through small incisions on the side of the chest. In many cases, the surgery is further enhanced with robotic assistance, providing surgeons with exceptional precision and control during operation. At Vejthani Hospital, we offer minimally invasive options for a wide range of procedures, including aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valve repair or replacement.

Visit Vejthani Heart Center

Cardiac Center at Vejthani provides world-class, comprehensive heart valve repair and replacement surgical procedures. 

If you’ve been diagnosed with heart valve problems or would like more information on the range of heart surgery, schedule an appointment for a consultation at Cardiac Center at Vejthani today.