In valve operations the surgeon approaches the heart through an
incision made in the front of the chest. The breast-bone (sternum) is cut
lengthwise giving good access to the heart which lies in the centre of the
chest cavity. During the main part of the operation when the heart itself is
being operated upon, it is necessary to stop the heart and to stop the flow of
blood through the heart and lungs. During this period of the operation, the
surgeon and the team use a heart/lung bypass machine which artificially
takes over the heart’s job of pumping and the lungs’ job of breathing.
The surgeon will open up the heart chamber to gain access to the
diseased valve or valves. Sometimes it may be possible to carry out a
surgical procedure on the patient’s own valve to make it work normally 
choose to do this. For most patients, however, the surgeon chooses to c
When this is possible (in a small percentage of cases) the surgeon wi
out the diseased valve and replace it with an artificial valve.
The artificial valve is designed to function like the normal heart
A number of different types of artificial heart valves are in
heart surgeons throughout the world.