Structural heart

Structural, or "valvular," heart disease refers to damage in one of the four heart valves: mitral, aortic, tricuspid or pulmonary. Valves that are functioning normally make sure blood is flowing through the heart in the right direction at the right time. Valvular heart disease occurs when the valves become too narrow or cannot close completely.

While many structural heart complications require surgical intervention, we will always prioritize nonsurgical treatment whenever possible. Valvular heart disease, for example, can sometimes be treated and managed with medications such as:

• Antibiotics or long-term antibiotic therapy
• Antithrombotic (clot-preventing) medications
• Blood-thinning medications for atrial fibrillation (AFib) to prevent clots forming and leading to transient ischemic attacks (TIA), otherwise known as "mini strokes

Our interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons are specialists in heart valve consultation and treatment. We provide traditional valve replacement surgeries as well as minimally invasive treatment methods for aortic stenosis. Minimally invasive surgical methods offer you less pain, less blood loss, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times.

The most effective treatment option for aortic stenosis is valve replacement. The two primary approaches we provide are:

• Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) — SAVR is an open-heart surgery in which the aortic valve is removed and replaced with a valve that is either mechanical or biological (made from human or animal tissue).
• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) — TAVR is a catheter-based approach to aortic valve replacement. It is typically best if you have severe aortic stenosis or have been considered intermediate- or high-risk for SAVR.

Whether you are having TAVR or SAVR, our expert team will work with you and your referring physician to create a treatment plan that ensures a full recovery by incorporating education and aftercare support.

Your heart is unique and requires unique treatment. Although new TAVR guidelines will potentially open the eligibility up to the younger and traditionally healthier population, we will still need to intricately assess your personal health beforehand to determine eligibility. This could be through computerized tomography (CT) scans, an echocardiogram or a diagnostic heart catheter to examine your arteries.

How TAVR procedures work

If you qualify for the procedure, we will use further diagnostic testing to size the replacement valve to your exact dimensions. Unlike open-heart surgery, TAVR does not remove the existing valve, instead, inserting a new aortic valve through the catheter. Additionally, TAVR procedures use small incisions and conscious sedation, rather than general anesthesia, so that your chest bones can remain intact and unaffected.

What to expect after TAVR surgery

As with other minimally invasive procedures, TAVR may significantly improve your recovery time and shorten your hospital stay. Typically, you are admitted on the same day as your procedure and your inpatient recovery period lasts only two to three days, versus four to eight days for traditional, open-heart surgery. Blood flow and velocity often improve immediately after surgery, and you may even notice improved circulation within 24 to 48 hours.