Structural heart

Our structural heart procedures focus on treating conditions of the aortic and mitral valves, where valve disease is most common.

Aortic and mitral valve regurgitation

Regurgitation occurs when either the aortic or mitral valve does not close properly, allowing blood to leak through the valve when it should not. For example, picture a door frame. If the door frame becomes stretched, the door is unable to close and will swing through the frame.

If the aortic or mitral valve becomes stretched or misshapen, it is unable to close correctly.

Aortic valve regurgitation may be caused by a congenital abnormality of the valve, an aortic aneurysm, degeneration of the valve or an infection.

Mitral valve regurgitation may be caused by an enlarged heart, mitral valve prolapse or a rupture of the tendons or papillary muscles that facilitate valve movement.

Aortic and mitral valve stenosis

Valve stenosis occurs when there is an abnormal narrowing of the valve that does not allow enough blood to flow through the valve. This subsequently means that there is not enough blood supply to go to the lungs and rest of the body.

Aortic stenosis causes may include progressive wear and tear of a bicuspid valve, wear and tear of the aortic valve in older patients and scarring of the aortic valve due to rheumatic fever as a child or young adult.

The most common cause of mitral valve stenosis is rheumatic fever. Other causes include wear and tear of the mitral valve in older patients, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

For some patients, treatment of structural heart conditions may mean medication management and close observation by a physician. However, sometimes heart surgery is needed to repair or replace a valve.

Valve repair may be an option for some patients experiencing mitral regurgitation. For patients with aortic regurgitation, aortic stenosis and mitral stenosis, heart valve replacement may be needed. Mechanical and tissue valves are available for patients undergoing a valve replacement. Our structural heart specialists discuss what options are available with each patient.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)

Not all patients with aortic stenosis are candidates for open-heart surgery to replace a damaged aortic valve.

During the TAVR procedure, the new valve is attached to a catheter and inserted into the femoral artery or into a small incision in the chest, then guided to the heart. The balloon is inflated to secure the new valve in place, directly over the old valve. Recovery is similar to a heart catheterization and the patient usually goes home the next day.