Definition
A surgical procedure in which one or more diseased or damaged valves of the heart are replaced with a mechanical or biological (tissue) valve. In FAA medical certification, a history of cardiac valve replacement is a specifically disqualifying condition that requires special review and a Special Issuance Authorization before a pilot may hold any class of medical certificate.
Plain English
An operation to replace a faulty heart valve with an artificial one. Because of the FAA's safety concerns, a pilot who has had this surgery cannot simply renew their medical certificate -- they must go through a special FAA review process to be cleared to fly.
Context Anchor
Seen in medical certification discussions, especially when listing heart conditions or surgeries that must be reported on an FAA medical application.
Derivation
From Latin cardiacus, meaning 'of the heart,' and valva, meaning 'a folding door' -- a fitting image for the small flaps inside the heart that open and close to control blood flow.
Why Pilots Care
A pilot who has had this procedure must report it to the FAA and typically requires a special-issuance medical certificate before returning to flight duties.
Intuition Check
Do not assume cardiac valve replacement automatically means a pilot can never fly. In this context, it means the condition must be disclosed and reviewed before medical certification can be granted or continued.
Example Sentence 1
After his cardiac valve replacement, the pilot worked with his AME to gather the documentation needed for a Special Issuance medical.
Example Sentence 2
After cardiac valve replacement the applicant submitted additional records for FAA review before a certificate could be issued.