Heart Valve Repair Abroad

Heart Valve Repair Abroad through WorldMed Assist is affordable through our partnerships with state of the art hospitals abroad. Medically trained case managers provide patient advocacy to ensure you receive the best medical care available for your procedure. Hospitals, officially recognized by the Joint Commission International (JCI), are thoroughly investigated prior to selection. Your procedure, including travel to and from the destination hospital, is managed by registered nurses from beginning to conclusion, guaranteeing you the optimum experience.

Most importantly, we provide you with a personal touch from start until well after your return home.

Options for Heart Valve Repair Abroad include:

What is Heart Valve Repair?

Heart valve surgery is needed when a heart valve doesn’t work right. A valve may not open all the way. Or, a valve may have problems closing. If this happens, blood doesn’t move through the heart’s chambers the way it should. If a valve doesn’t open all the way, less blood moves through to the next chamber. If a valve doesn’t close tightly, blood may leak backward. These problems may mean that the heart must work harder to pump the same amount of blood. Or, blood may back up in the lungs or body because it’s not moving through the heart as it should. During heart valve replacement, one or more valves are replaced. Repair means that the valve is mended to help it work better. Replacement means your diseased valve is removed and a new valve is inserted in its place. Whether a valve will be repaired or replaced can only be decided once surgery has begun.

Heart Valve Repair Preparation

To prepare for heart valve repair surgery, we require detailed medical information in the form of a medical questionnaire, ECG, Pulmonary tests and blood work. In some cases an Angiogram is required. All of this information will allow the doctors that we work with to determine your eligibility for the procedure. Your doctor abroad will give you specific instructions about any dietary changes or activity restrictions you should follow before surgery. As part of the pre-surgery tests done at our partner hospitals abroad you will again receive chest X-rays, blood tests, an electrocardiogram and a coronary angiogram, which is a special type of X-ray procedure that uses dye to visualize the arteries that feed your heart.

How is Heart Valve Repair done?

During valve repair, a ring may be sewn around the opening of the valve to tighten it. Other parts of the valve may be cut, shortened, separated, or made stronger to help the valve open and close right.

Traditional heart valve repair

During traditional heart valve surgery, a surgeon will make an incision down the center of your sternum (breastbone) to get direct access to your heart. The surgeon then repairs or replaces your abnormal heart valve or valves.

Minimally invasive heart valve repair

Minimally invasive surgery is a type of heart valve replacement performed through smaller incisions. This type of surgery reduces blood loss, trauma, and length of hospital stay. Heart valve surgery is the most common minimally invasive procedure. Your surgeon will review your diagnostic tests prior to your surgery to see if you are a candidate for minimally invasive valve surgery.

Heart Valve Repair Recovery

You’ll remain hospitalized for about 10 days while your heart is monitored and your vital signs are checked frequently. Your doctor will likely prescribe medications (anticoagulants) to prevent blood clots, relax your arteries and protect against coronary spasms. The hospital stay in our partner hospitals abroad is much longer than what is provided in the US and gives your doctor adequate time to monitor your recovery. Your doctor will advise you to walk or to do other physical activities, increasing gradually in order to regain your strength and return to a normal, active lifestyle. Most individuals who have sedentary jobs can return to work in four to six weeks. Those who have physically demanding jobs will have to wait longer. Additionally, your doctor will not want you to drive a car for six weeks.