At present, with the extension of human life and the increase of the elderly population, heart valve disease has become one of the major cardiovascular diseases in China, and the incidence rate is increasing year by year, among which mitral valve disease and aortic valve disease are the most common. The heart is like a precise engine, and the four valves are like 'valves' that control blood flow. Once these 'doors' cannot be opened or closed, it will cause blood flow obstruction or reflux. Patients may experience symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue after physical activity, and in severe cases, they may progress to heart failure or even threaten their lives. ”Cui Yong, director of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and chief physician of the People's Hospital of Zhejiang Province, said in an interview that many middle-aged and elderly people have a heavy heart burden due to long-term hypertension, diabetes, smoking and other risk factors, and are more likely to accelerate the process of heart valve disease, so they need to pay special attention to heart health. Most heart valve diseases do not occur suddenly, but develop gradually. ”Cui Yong pointed out that every time the heart beats, the valves need to open and close synchronously. As age increases, the risk of developing lesions also gradually increases. Among them, the mitral and aortic valves, as the inlet and outlet of the left ventricle responsible for systemic blood pumping, bear a greater workload and therefore have a significantly higher probability of disease than other valves. It is worth noting that the development process of heart valve disease is slow and the symptoms are insidious, and patients often ignore the condition due to the lack of typical early manifestations. In addition, due to insufficient public awareness of the disease, most patients do not seek medical attention until they develop severe heart failure, which seriously affects the treatment effect and prognosis. When climbing stairs, shortness of breath can lead many people to mistakenly believe it is a normal phenomenon of lung problems or aging, but in fact, it may be a malfunction in the 'door' of the heart. ”Cui Yong metaphorically said, "It's like a car engine malfunctioning, valves not opening or closing properly, which can lead to blood flow obstruction and cause congestion in the lungs, making patients have difficulty breathing." Cui Yong added that symptoms such as chest tightness, post activity wheezing, and decreased physical strength are typical signals of heart valve disease. Once these symptoms occur, timely medical attention is needed, and diagnosis can be made through cardiac ultrasound examination to achieve early detection and treatment. At present, the treatment of heart valve disease is based on the patient's age, basic physical condition, life expectancy, and patient wishes, using a combination of medication, surgical procedures, interventional procedures, and other methods. Surgical intervention remains the primary method for treating valve diseases. With the development of technology, minimally invasive surgery has become an inevitable trend in surgical treatment, which can reduce surgical trauma while bringing comprehensive improvement to patient prognosis. There are two types of artificial valves that can be used for surgical replacement surgery, including mechanical valves and biological valves. In recent years, the emergence of new fully enclosed anti calcification dry valves has not only significantly improved the durability of biological valves, but also made them more suitable for minimally invasive surgery with small incisions. Their valve design reserves the possibility for future treatment and provides patients with more treatment options. Through special design, this new type of biological valve can reserve space for future 'secondary valve replacement' and 'valve in valve' interventions during the first surgery. When the patient needs to have another valve replacement, simply expand the original valve and insert a new interventional valve to help the patient achieve longer-term benefits. ”Cui Yong added. The iteration of valve technology provides patients with more treatment options, while timely adjustments to medical insurance policies make advanced treatment methods more accessible. Previously, the Zhejiang Provincial Medical Insurance Bureau announced that starting from May this year, the maximum payment limit of 30000 yuan for medical consumables such as artificial valves will be cancelled, and payment will be made according to the basic medical insurance regulations. Experts say that this not only means that patients can enjoy high-quality and advanced treatment methods at their doorstep, but also means that they have more opportunities to choose the valve that truly suits their condition and needs. Doctors can also focus more on developing personalized treatment plans for patients. (New Society)