Why it's done

An annuloplasty is done to reshape, reinforce or tighten the ring around a heart valve.

The ring around a valve in the heart (annulus) can widen and change from its normal shape. This may occur when the heart is enlarged or if you have a leaky valve. When the ring is widened, the valve flaps attached to the ring may not open and close correctly. As a result, blood can leak backward through the valve.

An annuloplasty may be recommended to fix the valve. Doctors may perform annuloplasty alone or with other techniques to repair a heart valve.