Services Offered at Our Structural Heart Clinic
The heart has four valves which open and close in a specific cadence to ensure blood flows through the heart in the proper direction. When one of these valves doesn’t work properly, it results in a valve disorder. Heart valve disorders force your heart to work harder and cause a variety of symptoms, including shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness and an irregular heartbeat.
The Structural Heart Clinic at South Denver Cardiology Associates provides the latest and most advanced minimally invasive treatments for a variety of heart valve conditions. As with all our other clinics, our Structural Heart Clinic takes a multi-disciplinary approach to treating heart valve disorders, ensuring you receive a holistic care plan that will provide the most effective treatment possible.
Types of Heart Valve Disorders
There are three types of heart valve disorders which disrupt the proper flow of blood through your heart:
- Stenosis – The valve becomes thick, stiff or narrowed, preventing it from opening fully and restricting blood flow.
- Regurgitation – The valve doesn’t close fully, allowing blood to flow backward into the chamber.
- Atresia – The valve doesn’t form properly and is either completely closed or doesn’t exist. As a result, there is no opening for blood to pass through.
Each of these conditions can affect any of the four valves in your heart (aortic, mitral, pulmonary and tricuspid). The specific name of your condition will include the name of the valve that isn’t functioning properly.
How Are Heart Valve Conditions Diagnosed?
Our team will perform a variety of diagnostic tests to determine whether a heart valve condition is causing your symptoms. Depending on the specifics of your situation, we may recommend some or all of the following:
- EKG – This test assesses the rate and rhythm of your heartbeat to identify any abnormal rhythms that may be caused by a heart valve disorder
- Echocardiogram – Ultrasound technology will provide a visual of the heart to identify the presence of a heart valve condition and the specific type of disorder you have
- Cardiac Catheterization – A catheter is inserted inside your heart to assess the presence of any damage that may be associated with a valve disorder
- Stress Test – There are several different types of stress tests which will help assess the health of your heart and how efficiently it’s pumping blood
- Cardiac MRI – This diagnostic exam provides still and moving images of your heart to detect structural and functional issues that may be related to a valve condition
Conditions We Treat
Our Structural Heart Clinic treats the following conditions:
- Aortic Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)
- Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)
Aortic Valve Disease
The aortic valve regulates blood flow from the heart’s left ventricle to the aorta. There are two conditions that impact the aortic valve. Aortic stenosis occurs when the valve becomes narrow, stiff or calcified, restricting blood flow from the heart to the aorta. Aortic regurgitation occurs when the valve doesn’t close properly, allowing blood to leak backward into the left ventricle.
Mitral Valve Disease
The mitral valve is located between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart. There are three types of mitral valve disease:
- Mitral Valve Regurgitation – The valve doesn’t close tightly, allowing blood to leak backward into the left atrium (often referred to as a “leaky valve”)
- Mitral Valve Stenosis – The valve becomes thick, stiff or fused, restricting blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle
- Mitral Valve Prolapse – The valve flaps bulge back into the left atrium, potentially causing regurgitation
Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of heart arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat). It occurs when the upper chambers of the heart beat chaotically and out of sync with the lower chambers, causing a rapid and irregular heart rhythm.
Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a small opening between the two upper chambers of the heart that didn’t close at birth. It occurs in about 25% of adults, and most people don’t have symptoms and are never aware they have this condition. While usually harmless, PFO can potentially increase your risk of conditions such as stroke or severe migraines.
Treatments Offered at Our Structural Heart Clinic
The cardiologists at our Structural Heart Clinic provide the following non-invasive treatments to address heart valve disorders:
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) – This procedure is performed to replace an aortic valve when severe aortic stenosis has developed.
- MitraClip – This procedure helps mitral valves close more completely to restore normal blood flow. It provides patients who have mitral regurgitation with an effective non-invasive alternative to open heart surgery.
- Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion – This procedure uses a parachute device to seal off the left atrial appendage to prevent blood clots from forming. It allows patients who have AFib to come off blood thinners and minimizes the risk of stroke.
- PFO Closure – This procedure is performed to seal the small opening between the upper chambers of the heart that failed to close naturally after birth. It can help reduce the risk of stroke and improve migraine headache symptoms.
South Denver Cardiology Associates Can Help
The Structural Heart Clinic at South Denver Cardiology Associates is the premier treatment center for heart valve disorders in the Denver metro area. Our team of highly trained cardiologists, nurse practitioners and support staff will work with you to properly diagnose your condition and develop a customized treatment plan that will help you restore proper valve function. You don’t have to live with the health risks associated with a heart valve condition. Our team will help you enjoy a better quality of life and better health.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment. South Denver Cardiology Associates serves patients in Denver, Littleton and the surrounding areas of Colorado.
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As with any health concerns, your specific treatment program should be discussed thoroughly with your primary care physician as well as any specialists who may need to be consulted – like a cardiologist.
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