If you're facing an aortic valve replacement or helping a loved one through it, you're probably flooded with questions: How long will the surgery take? What's recovery really like? And most importantly — what happens to quality of life afterward? Let’s dive deep into the facts that most people don’t hear upfront — and uncover what truly happens post-surgery.
How Long Does Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery Take?
On average, aortic valve replacement surgery takes between 2 to 4 hours. However, when you include preparation time, anesthesia, and post-surgery monitoring, most patients spend about 6 hours in the operating suite overall. The surgical team works methodically to ensure everything is done with the utmost precision.
If you are a candidate for a transcatheter aortic valve replacement, also known as TAVR, the timeline can be even shorter. TAVR procedures often take only 1 to 2 hours. Because TAVR is less invasive, patients typically experience shorter hospital stays and faster recoveries.
What Happens During Heart Valve Surgery?
During traditional open-heart surgery, the heart is temporarily stopped, and a heart-lung machine keeps blood and oxygen circulating throughout the body. The surgeon removes the damaged valve and carefully replaces it with a new one, which can be either mechanical or made from biological tissue.
In a TAVR procedure, a catheter is threaded through the blood vessels up to the heart, and a new valve is placed inside the old one without stopping the heart. This breakthrough technology has dramatically improved outcomes and recovery times for thousands of patients each year.
Life After Aortic Valve Replacement, Especially at Age 80 and Beyond
One of the biggest concerns people have is about life expectancy after valve replacement, especially for seniors. Here is the surprising truth.
Many patients in their 80s not only live longer after surgery, but they also experience a significant boost in their quality of life. Studies show that over 70 percent of people over 80 who undergo aortic valve replacement return to independent living with minimal restrictions. Many report having more energy, improved breathing, and the ability to enjoy activities they had previously given up.
The recovery period depends on the type of procedure. For traditional surgery, it usually takes 6 to 12 weeks. For TAVR, it is often only 2 to 4 weeks. Regardless of age, patients often experience a major improvement once they heal.