Diseases of the heart valves can be a common cause of heart failure. During valve surgery, the valves may be either repaired or replaced. In appropriate patients, valve surgery may significantly reduce the severity of heart failure and improve quality of life.
In a study of 92 patients with severe heart failure and faulty valves, reconstruction of the heart’s mitral valve drastically improved heart function, and all patients were able to be reclassified as Class I or Class II patients. For more information read “What causes valve disease”, “How is valve disease diagnosed” and “How is valve disease treated”.