What does Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR) involve?

SAVR is an open-chest procedure where the surgeon removes the diseased aortic valve and replaces it with either a mechanical valve (made of durable materials like carbon) or a biological valve (from animal tissue). The operation requires a sternotomy—a vertical incision through the breastbone—and is performed under general anesthesia with cardiopulmonary bypass, meaning a heart-lung machine temporarily takes over circulation. The choice of valve depends on your age, lifestyle, and need for lifelong anticoagulation if mechanical. The procedure typically takes 2–4 hours, followed by a hospital stay of 10–14 days in China.