Heart valve repair or replacement surgery is performed to repair a defective or diseased heart valve. Heart valve repair or replacement surgery is an open-heart surgery. During heart valve repair, a cardiothoracic surgeon repairs the heart valve using the patient's own tissues. For a heart valve replacement, the valve is removed and a new heart valve is sutured into place. Dr. Erick Montero discusses heart valve disease, and the minimally invasive surgical options available to qualifying patients who need heart valve repair or replacement.