Berlusconi to have heart surgery

Four-time Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is to undergo heart surgery after suffering an attack his doctor said could have killed him

Berlusconi, 79, who has had pacemaker for years, is suffering from severe aortic insufficiency

AORTIC INSUFFICIENCY

Vena Cava

Right atrium

Right ventricle

Aorta

Left atrium

Aortic valve: Controls flow of blood from heart to rest of body

Berlusconi’s aortic valve is leaky (aortic regurgitation), causing blood to flow in
reverse direction, back into heart

AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT

Major operation involves removing faulty or damaged valve and replacing it with new one made from synthetic materials or animal tissue

Left ventricle

PROCEDURE

Large cut made in chest to access heart

Heart stopped. Bypass machine takes over job of heart during operation

Damaged valve replaced with new one

Heart restarted. Opening in chest closed

Healthy valve closed

Diseased valve closed 

Sources: U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Health Service