Heart Valve Disease

Unmatched care for heart valve diseases

Heart valve disease occurs when at least one of your heart’s valves doesn’t open or close properly, disrupting blood flow. Our Structural Heart and Valvular Disease experts offer patients access to the most advanced treatments, including the latest minimally invasive procedures, surgeries, and medical therapies. We were one of the country’s first five clinical trial sites to evaluate the minimally invasive approach known as a “transcatheter aortic valve replacement” (TAVR),and we have taken part in every major clinical trial of the procedure ever since.

Depending on the severity of your disease, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair or replace your heart valve. Our Cardiac Surgery Program has some of the nation’s best outcomes for heart surgery, and we perform more heart surgeries than nearly any other program in the mid-Atlantic region.

Each day, cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and imaging specialists meet as a team to discuss the cases of patients who have been screened for a structural heart problem. Working together, they identify the best care and treatment options for each patient.

What are the types of heart valve disease?

Each of the heart’s four valves can be affected by heart valve disease. Heart valve disease can cause a deformity in the valve structure or can cause the affected valve to leak, narrow or function improperly. The four main types of heart valve disease are:

• Aortic valve disease
• Mitral valve disease
• Pulmonary valve disease
• Tricuspid valve disease

What are the symptoms of heart valve disease?

When a heart valve doesn’t work like it should, your heart has to beat harder to make up the difference. You may not notice any symptoms, or your symptoms may be severe. Symptoms of heart valve disease can include:

• Changes in your heartbeat, such as arrhythmia or heart palpitations
• Chest pain or pressure
• Dizziness or fainting
• Heart murmur, an abnormal sound either during or after heartbeats that your doctor can hear with a stethoscope

Talk to your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms.

Who is at risk for heart valve disease?

Heart valve disease may be a congenital heart disease, a condition that’s present at birth. If you develop heart valve disease later in life, we call that acquired valve disease.

Several factors can increase your risk for acquired heart valve disease, such as:

• Certain forms of heart disease
• High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes
• Infections that affect the heart, including endocarditis
• Previous heart attacks

Tests

Diagnosing heart valve disease is the first step to developing a treatment plan. Our specialists may recommend one or more diagnostic and imaging procedures.

Treatments

Lifestyle changes, medications and regular checkups may be enough to manage mild heart valve disease. If your disease is severe, you may need surgery to repair or replace the faulty heart valve.