Prof. Dr. Ali Serdar Fak
Cardiac SurgeryVerified
- 29+years exp.
English · Turkish
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Heart Surgery
Heart valve repair
What heart valve repair is, how surgeons reshape a leaking mitral or tricuspid valve with rings, leaflet work and artificial cords, when repair is preferred to replacement, what the evidence says, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, the hospital stay, recovery milestones, risks and how to check a cardiac centre before travelling.
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Dr. Bülent İlçöl
Cardiac SurgeryVerified
- 25+years exp.
English · Turkish
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What is heart valve repair, and how is it done in Turkey?
Heart valve repair is an operation that reshapes your own valve so that it closes properly, instead of removing it and putting in an artificial one. It is used mainly for the mitral valve (between the left upper and lower chambers) and the tricuspid valve (on the right side). Cardiac surgeons in Turkey perform it in the same way as elsewhere: the heart is reached through the breastbone or through a small cut between the ribs, the heart is stopped for a short time while a heart-lung machine takes over, and the valve is repaired under direct vision before the heart is restarted.
This guide explains how the repair works, when it is preferred to replacement, what the evidence says, what it costs compared with the UK, US and Germany, and what recovery involves. It is general information, not a substitute for the advice of your own cardiologist. For the wider picture see our cardiology treatments in Turkey.
How do surgeons repair a leaking valve?
The technique depends on why the valve leaks. Common steps include:
- Annuloplasty: a ring or partial band is stitched around the valve opening to pull a stretched valve back to its normal size.
- Leaflet repair: a floppy or prolapsing section of a leaflet is trimmed and sewn, or supported so that it no longer bulges backwards.
- Artificial cords (neochordae): thin synthetic sutures replace torn or stretched cords that hold the leaflets in place.
- Commissure work: fused edges of a narrowed valve are separated; this is more often possible on the mitral valve than on the aortic valve.
Before leaving the operating theatre the surgeon checks the result with a transoesophageal echocardiogram, an ultrasound probe passed down the gullet. If the valve still leaks significantly, the surgeon can go on to replace it in the same operation, so the consent form normally covers both.
Is repair preferred to replacement?
For a valve damaged by degenerative disease, especially mitral regurgitation caused by prolapse, European and American guidelines recommend repair rather than replacement whenever a durable repair is likely, because you keep your own valve tissue and usually avoid lifelong blood thinners. Rheumatic damage, heavy calcification or infection can make repair less reliable, and then heart valve replacement is the safer route. Aortic valve repair is possible in selected cases, but most aortic valves are replaced; see replacement of the aortic valve. The decision rests on the scan findings and the surgeon's experience with that valve type, not on a preference stated in advance.
Does heart valve repair work, and how long does it last?
For well-selected patients with degenerative mitral disease, repair relieves breathlessness, protects the heart muscle from the strain of a leaking valve and has good long-term outcomes in published series from experienced centres. Durability is not unlimited: a repaired valve can leak again over the years, and a small share of patients need a second operation or a catheter procedure. Repair does not cure the underlying condition, so regular check-ups with an echocardiogram remain necessary. No honest centre will promise that a repair will last for life. Repair only makes sense when surgery is indicated, so leaks that are mild and symptom-free are usually watched rather than operated on.
Heart valve repair cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The ranges below are approximate and cover the operation with hospital stay in a private hospital; they are not hospital quotes. The final price depends on the valve, the access route, the implants used and any complications.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €9,000 – €22,000 |
| United Kingdom | €25,000 – €50,000 |
| United States | €55,000 – €150,000 |
| Germany | €22,000 – €48,000 |
What changes the price: repair of one valve or several, a ring or other implants, the surgical approach (open chest, small incision or robotic), days in intensive care and the ward, and whether a replacement turns out to be needed. A written quote should state what is included: pre-operative tests, surgeon and anaesthetist fees, intensive care, ward days, medication, follow-up scans and transfers, and what happens to the cost if the stay is longer than planned.
Open surgery, small incision or catheter repair?
Conventional repair through the breastbone gives the surgeon the widest view and is the standard for complex valves. Minimally invasive access through the right chest is offered for suitable mitral and tricuspid repairs and tends to leave a smaller scar and a shorter bone-healing period, but it needs a team that performs it often. For high-risk patients with a leaking mitral valve, a catheter edge-to-edge clip can reduce the leak without opening the chest. A narrowed valve may also be widened with a balloon; see valvuloplasty.
| Approach | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Open surgery through the breastbone | Complex or multiple valve problems, combined bypass surgery | Longest bone healing; larger scar |
| Minimally invasive or robotic | Mitral or tricuspid repair in suitable anatomy | Fewer centres with enough experience |
| Catheter edge-to-edge clip | High-risk patients with mitral leakage | Reduces rather than abolishes the leak; not for all valve shapes |
Who is a candidate for heart valve repair, and who is not?
The usual candidates have severe leakage or narrowing that causes symptoms such as breathlessness, tiredness or swelling, or that has begun to enlarge the heart or weaken its pumping, even when symptoms are mild. Your cardiologist will use echocardiography and sometimes a CT or MRI scan to decide. Repair is less suitable if the valve is heavily calcified, destroyed by infection or too short of tissue. Other conditions such as coronary disease or an irregular heartbeat may need treating in the same operation. Having the right scans and reports ready before you travel matters; our team can help you collect them.
What happens during the operation, and what is the hospital stay?
The operation takes about three to five hours under general anaesthesia. After surgery you wake in intensive care with a breathing tube for a few hours, drains in the chest and temporary pacing wires. Most people move to the ward after one to two days, begin walking with a physiotherapist and go through blood tests, a chest X-ray and an echocardiogram before discharge. A typical hospital stay is about five to eight days. Plan to remain in Turkey for around ten to fourteen days in total so that the surgeon can check the wound, the rhythm and the valve once more before you fly.
Heart valve repair recovery: week by week
- Days 1–2: intensive care, drains and monitoring; first steps with the physiotherapist.
- Days 3–8: ward; short walks, wound care and medication adjustment.
- Weeks 2–6: home recovery; no heavy lifting or pushing through the breastbone; short daily walks.
- Weeks 6–12: gradual return to work and normal activity; cardiac rehabilitation if available.
Airlines usually accept passengers a couple of weeks after heart surgery if the surgeon agrees, and long flights call for walking and fluids. Fatigue can last for weeks. Your surgeon will advise on blood thinners, which are often needed for a few months after a ring repair but not always for life. Arrange a follow-up echocardiogram with a cardiologist at home within a few months. The British Heart Foundation and the NHS publish clear guidance on recovery after valve surgery.
What are the risks of heart valve repair?
Heart surgery is major surgery. Recognised risks include bleeding, infection, an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) that often settles, stroke, kidney problems, the need for a pacemaker and, rarely, death. Risk rises with age, weak heart function, other illnesses and emergency surgery, so a surgeon should discuss your own risk score with you. Later, the repair can fail and the valve can leak again. These risks are described by the NHS and by cardiology societies such as the European Society of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. Ask what happens in a complication, how long you would stay and who would care for you after you go home.
How do I choose a cardiac centre, and what should I ask?
Look for a cardiac surgeon who performs valve repairs regularly rather than occasionally, a hospital with a full intensive-care unit, 24-hour cardiology cover and a blood bank, and a written plan that explains whether a repair or replacement is intended. Red flags are a price quoted without seeing your scans, any guarantee of success, no named surgeon and pressure to pay quickly. Read how our process works and send your reports through the free quote page. Useful questions to ask:
- How many repairs of this valve does the surgeon perform each year, and how often does the repair convert to replacement?
- Which approach is planned, and why?
- What exactly is included in the price, and what is charged if the stay is longer?
- Will I need blood thinners, and for how long?
- Who reviews my echocardiogram after I return home?
Hospitals with Cardiac Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Heart valve repair is surgery that reshapes your own leaking or stiff heart valve, most often the mitral or tricuspid valve, with a ring, leaflet work or artificial cords so it closes properly, instead of replacing it with an artificial valve.
For degenerative mitral leakage, guidelines favour repair when a durable result is likely, because you keep your own tissue and often avoid lifelong blood thinners. Calcified, infected or rheumatic valves may need replacement instead.
Approximate private-hospital ranges are €9,000 to €22,000 in Turkey against roughly €25,000 to €50,000 in the UK. The price depends on the valve, the approach and the hospital stay, and the hospital confirms its figure in a written quote.
The operation usually takes about three to five hours under general anaesthesia, followed by one to two days in intensive care and a total hospital stay of roughly five to eight days.
Most people need six to twelve weeks to return to normal activity and work. The breastbone takes about six weeks to heal, so lifting and pushing are restricted during that time.
You are asleep during the operation. Afterwards you will have chest wall soreness and tightness, controlled with regular painkillers, and most people find the pain eases noticeably over the first one to two weeks.
Durability varies with the valve and the cause of the damage. Many repairs last for years, but a repaired valve can start to leak again, so regular echocardiogram check-ups are needed.
It is major surgery with real risks, including bleeding, infection, stroke, irregular heartbeat and rarely death. Risk depends on your age, heart function and other conditions, and your surgeon should explain your personal risk.
Repair keeps and reshapes your own valve, while replacement removes it and fits a mechanical or tissue valve. Replacement may need lifelong blood thinners with a mechanical valve.
Plan for around ten to fourteen days in total: about five to eight in hospital, then a few days nearby so the surgeon can check your wound, rhythm and valve before you fly.
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