Study finds preserving heart valve during aortic surgery improves long-term outcomes
Bengaluru: Patients with an enlarged aortic root may not always need their heart valve replaced, according to a new Indian study that found a valve-preserving procedure can deliver strong long-term survival while avoiding lifelong blood-thinning medication.
The research, published in the Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, followed 91 patients who underwent Valve-Sparing Root Replacement (VSRR) at Narayana Health, Bengaluru, between 2009 and 2024.
The procedure repairs the enlarged aorta — the first part of the body’s main artery — while keeping the patient’s natural heart valve intact. In suitable cases, it removes the need for an artificial valve.
Researchers found that VSRR resulted in good long-term survival and low complication rates. By preserving the native valve, the surgery also spares patients from risks often linked to prosthetic replacements, such as bleeding and thromboembolism.
“The study confirmed Valve-Sparing Root Replacement as a highly durable surgical strategy,” the authors noted. “By preserving the native valve, it spares patients from the complications such as bleeding and thromboembolism often associated with prosthetic replacements, yielding excellent survival and minimal reintervention rates.”
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death globally. According to the World Health Organization, they accounted for an estimated 19.8 million deaths — about 32% of all deaths — in 2022. In India, they account for 27% of all deaths and 45% of deaths among people aged 40-69 years.
Doctors say the findings support VSRR as a viable option for carefully selected patients with aortic root enlargement, offering the benefit of repair without the trade-offs of valve replacement.
