Treatment of Valve Disease – Repair & Replacement | MedStar Health

Browse this page

Using advanced, minimally invasive methods to improve heart valve function

The goal of any valve disease treatment is to manage symptoms and prevent further heart damage. If you need surgery to repair or replace a damaged valve, we offer less invasive approaches as an alternative to traditional open-heart surgery.

The doctors in our Structural Heart and Valvular Disease Program treat even the most complex valve diseases using innovative therapies. Our program has been involved in every major clinical trial to evaluate transcatheter aortic valve replacement and we perform an average of 340 TAVR procedures a year.

Monitoring, medication, and lifestyle changes to prevent heart damage

If your valve disease is mild, your doctor may recommend regular tests such as echocardiogram  to monitor valve function. Some symptoms may be managed with medications to control your blood pressure or prevent arrhythmias.

Lifestyle changes that also can benefit your heart health include:

  • Eating less sodium

  • Drinking less alcohol

  • Exercising regularly

Surgery to repair or replace a damaged valve

Your doctor may recommend traditional or minimally invasive surgery to reduce the risk of complications or improve symptoms. The type of surgery will vary based on the valve affected, your age, and other existing health conditions.

  • Heart valve repair: Surgeons may be able to improve valve function by reshaping the tissue or inserting a ring to reinforce it. Repairing the valve often is the preferred option because it uses existing tissue that bears a lower risk of infection.

  • Heart valve replacement: If the valve is severely damaged, it may need to be replaced. Our surgeons may use natural body tissue or synthetic tissue to replace your valve.

Conditions

Adventitial Cystic Disease

Adventitial cystic disease is a rare type of peripheral vascular disease in which a fluid-filled sac called a cyst forms next to the artery and blocks blood flow.

Endocarditis

Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers or valves. It occurs when bacteria in the bloodstream attach to damaged areas of the heart.

Heart Valve Disease

Heart valve disease occurs when at least one of the four heart valves doesn’t work properly, disrupting the normal flow of blood.

Tetralogy of Fallot

Tetralogy of Fallot is a combination of four congenital structural heart that disrupt the normal flow of blood through the heart.

Tests

Cardiac Catheterization

Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat a variety of heart and vascular conditions by guiding thin, flexible tubes called catheters through blood vessels to problem areas.

Chest X-ray

Chest X-rays use a small dose of radiation to create pictures of the structures inside the chest, including the lungs, heart, and chest wall.

Computerized Tomography (CT) scan

The cardiac computed tomography scan, or cardiac CT, uses X-rays to create three-dimensional images of your heart and blood vessels.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your heart.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, measures the heart’s electrical activity.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging, better known as cardiac MRI, is a combination of radio waves, magnets, and computer technology to create images of your heart and blood vessels.

Stress Tests

Stress tests are used to assess how your heart works during physical activity. There are several types of stress tests, including treadmill or bike stress tests, nuclear stress tests, stress echocardiograms, and chemically induced stress tests.

Our providers

Location: Change location Enter your location

Valvular Disease Cardiology

Show Next 8 of Show All Valvular Disease Cardiology

Our locations

Distance from Change locationEnter your location

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center

7503 Surratts Rd.
Clinton, MD 20735

MedStar Union Memorial Hospital

201 E. University Pkwy.
Baltimore, MD 21218

MedStar Montgomery Medical Center

18101 Prince Philip Dr.
Olney, MD 20832

MedStar Washington Hospital Center

110 Irving St. NW
Washington, DC 20010

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

3800 Reservoir Rd. NW
Washington, DC, 20007

Related services

Emergency Medicine


Heart and Vascular


Heart Valve Disease


Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery


Pharmacy


Primary Care


Structural Heart and Valve Disease


Ask MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute

Have general questions for our heart and vascular program? Email us at AskMHVI@medstar.net. If you have clinically-specific questions, please contact your physician’s office.