Valve Clinic/Structural Heart

The Valve Clinic offers a multidisciplinary team of cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, imaging specialists and staff who provide focused assessment and treatment options for patients with severe aortic stenosis and other complex valve disorders. The Valve Clinic gives patients access to several specialists at one appointment in order to expedite their care and help determine the optimal treatment plan in a setting that is convenient for the patient.

There are four valves that control the flow of blood through your heart. They are called the aortic, mitral, pulmonary and tricuspid valves.These valves can become either narrowed (stenosis) or leaky (regurgitation) because of aging or disease. The aortic and mitral are the two most common valves that are affected. If diseased valves are left untreated, you may develop heart failure.

Symptoms patients with valve problems may experience include the following:

  • shortness of breath
  • chest pain
  • light-headedness
  • swelling in feet, legs or abdomen
  • rapid or irregular heartbeat

Services

Valve clinic appointment: Evaluation of your valve disease with an interventional cardiologist and possibly a cardiothoracic surgeon, if needed and available.

Testing for heart valve evaluation and treatment may include:

  • 2-D echocardiogram (ultrasound of your heart)
  • Heart catheterization (to evaluate heart pressures and coronary artery disease)
  • CT scans (with and without contrast) and/or carotid ultrasound
  • Pulmonary function testing

Treatment options available may include:

Through clinical intervention, the program connects cardiologist and surgeons who participate in unique patient care. Patients benefit from both specialties determining whether they are appropriate candidates for surgery or minimally invasive interventions, such as the TAVR or TMVR procedure.

For more information or to make a referral to the Valve Clinic, call (515) 633-3502.

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