Each year, thousands of people have surgeries to repair or replace a heart valve. In the past, the only surgical option has been what’s called an “open” surgery, requiring a long incision through the sternum and six to eight weeks of recovery. Today, however, many of these surgeries can be done through a much smaller incision, resulting in a faster recovery and several other benefits.

Get Healthy’s Jackie Hays describes a new procedure available at Norton Audubon Hospital and Norton Hospital downtown.

Patients who have this procedure also will have a small incision in the groin to allow staff to connect them to a heart bypass machine while the surgery is performed.

Other benefits of the less invasive surgery include: reduced risk of infection, shorter hospital stay, reduced pain and less blood loss.

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