Valve & Structural Heart Disease Clinic
Heart valves are an integral part of your heart’s proper functioning, as they maintain one-way blood flow with every heartbeat. Pressure changes on either side of the valves cause the cusps or leaflets (the flap-like gates) to open and close, stopping the blood from flowing backward. Valves can become diseased over time, and little can be done to prevent them.
Valve disease can be asymptomatic or can appear as congestive heart failure, heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), or blood clots.
Various methods for detecting valve disease are available, including simply listening with a stethoscope. Your doctor has several options.
Internationally Recognized Care Specialists
Stephanie Coulter, MD
Heather Pemberton, MD
Nikolaos Diakos, M.D., Ph.D.
R. David Fish, MD
Zvonimir Krajcer, MD
James Livesay, MD
Alexander Postalian, MD
Valve Clinic Coordinator
Larissa Capwell
Types of Valve Disease
The 2 types of valve disease are regurgitation and stenosis. In either case, your heart must work harder to combat the effects and get the blood moving. It becomes enlarged as a result, which decreases its work capacity.
Regurgitation – Occurs when a valve no longer closes all the way, which allows some blood to push backward; as a result, not enough blood reaches your body’s organs.
Stenosis – Occurs when valve leaflets do not open enough to allow proper blood flow.
Causes
Weakened mitral valve tissue that impedes the valve’s functioning and causes energy changes in the body (myxomatous degeneration); occurs most commonly in the elderly
Calcium buildup on the aortic or mitral valves causes the valves to thicken (calcific degeneration)
Congenital defects (from birth), such as an irregularly shaped aortic valve or a narrowed mitral valve
Use of certain anti-obesity medicines like fen-phen and Redux, which are no longer available
Infection of the lining of the heart’s walls and valves (infective endocarditis)
Plaque buildup and blockage in the coronary arteries (coronary artery disease or CAD)
Symptoms
Valve disease can be asymptomatic or can appear as congestive heart failure, heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), or blood clots.
Diagnosing Valve Disease
Various methods are available for detecting valve disease, including simply listening with a stethoscope. Your doctor has other options, including:
Echocardiography –produces images of your heart, showing the thickness of the walls, the 4 valves (shape, size and movement), volumes in the heart chambers, performance of the heart and abnormalities present.
Electrocardiography (EKG or ECG) – obtains the electrical activity of the heart and records how fast it is beating, the rhythm of the beats (regular or irregular) and the strength and timing of the heart impulses as they move through the heart.
Coronary angiography – is a procedure that uses x-rays and special contrast to see how the blood flow through the arteries of the heart. It identifies a narrowed valve or blood backflow, as the heart can be viewed while pumping; may also be used to determine surgical need and to assess whether or not you have coronary artery disease.
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – produces detailed 3-dimensional images of the structures within and around your heart. It is useful to evaluate anatomy, function and heart disease.
Treatment Options
Percutaneous valve procedures: minimally invasive procedure done without surgery. They are performed through a tube called catheter that is inserted under the skin into a blood vessel and guided until it reaches the heart.
Balloon valvuloplasty aids in opening narrowed valves. A balloon-tipped catheter is inserted through the arm or groin and guided to the heart and into the narrowed valve. The balloon is inflated and deflated several times to increase the diameter of the valve
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement is a procedure to replace the damage valve via catheter.
Mitral Clip is used in case of mitral valves that doesn’t close properly causing leak (regurgitation). A small clip is implanted via catheter to help the valve seal more tightly.
Surgery: Open surgery is the most invasive option. It allows valves to either be repaired or replaced.
Research to Improve Treatment Outcomes
Through our practice, you may have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials. The Texas Heart Institute’s clinical trials include experimental treatments that may lead to better patient care.
Contact Us to Participate in Clinical Trials
Make an Appointment
Contact the Valve Clinic or Request a call from our Valve Clinic Coordinator through the Contact Form.