At Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, patients receive heart valve disease treatment from a dedicated structural heart team, which is unique in South Florida. Each member of our team offers a specific set of skills, so you receive personalized, comprehensive care.

Our heart valve disease team develops a customized approach for every individual, from making the most accurate diagnosis, to choosing the right treatment at the right time, to follow-up care for your heart valve condition. Using the latest technology and expertise, we’ve made huge strides in treating heart valve disease. We aim to stay at the forefront of minimally invasive procedures for our patients, including heart valve disease treatment without surgery.

What is heart valve disease and what associated conditions are treated at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute?

Our team excels at treating heart valve disease. Most patients are referred to us from their primary cardiologist, but some are diagnosed with a heart valve problem following a visit to the emergency room.

This condition occurs when one of the heart valves no longer functions properly. Heart valve disease causes include birth defects, plaque or calcium buildup, infections, age or changes from heart failure. Heart valve disease can lead to:

  • Stenosis, which causes the heart valve flaps to thicken or stiffen, restricting the valve from fully opening and preventing blood from flowing properly
  • Regurgitation, which involves the backflow or leaking of blood through the valves back into the lungs, liver or extremities

Heart Valve Disease Conditions & Treatments

How is heart valve disease diagnosed?

Heart valve disease symptoms often include fatigue, shortness of breath, and occasional chest pain or dizziness.

Our team uses sophisticated diagnostic heart testing to determine whether you have heart valve disease. We use non-invasive testing, including cardiac CT and MRI scans, whenever possible. We may also use a transesophageal echocardiogram, which involves placing a camera down the throat, to better see heart structures and to more accurately diagnose and plan treatment.

  • 5 million

    More than five million Americans are diagnosed with heart valve disease each year.
  • 4 valves

    Heart valve disease can occur in one or more of the four valves, but diseases of the aortic and mitral valves are most common.

How is heart valve disease treated at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute?

When treating heart valve disease, our team focuses on minimally invasive treatments whenever possible. These therapies have proven to be effective and require less recovery time.

Treatments may include:

  • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
  • Mitraclip for primary (mitral valve prolapse) or secondary (cardiomyopathy or dilated left ventricle) severe mitral insufficiency
  • Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR)
  • Tricuspid valve interventions performed through a catheter instead of surgery
  • Aortic valve surgery
  • Mitral valve surgery
  • Tricuspid surgery

Our interventional cardiologists have the benefit of using the innovative Philips EchoNavigator platform during procedures to better visualize the valves and other structures of the heart. The EchoNavigator combines X-ray and echocardiography images onto one screen and helps to guide the placement of closure devices or replacement valves.

Pioneering the Cures of Tomorrow

Pioneering the Cures of Tomorrow

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an expanded use for the MitraClip to treat patients suffering from severe and difficult-to-treat heart failure. “Expanding the approval of this device to heart failure patients with significant secondary mitral regurgitation, who have failed to get symptom relief from other therapies, provides an important new treatment option,” says Bram D. Zuckerman, M.D, director of the FDA’s Division of Cardiovascular Devices in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “Careful evaluation by a team of specialists is essential to determining whether a particular patient is an appropriate candidate for this procedure.”

Our Approach to Heart Valve Disease Treatment

Our Approach to Heart Valve Disease Treatment

When you come to Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute for heart valve disease treatment, you can expect:

  • A dedicated heart team that specializes in every aspect of care, from imaging to surgery
  • An individualized approach; we work with you to find a treatment that fits your preferences and your precise diagnosis
  • Access to new and exciting therapies through clinical trials

Who benefits from this program?

At Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, we treat all forms of heart valve disease and can develop a personalized treatment plan based on your diagnosis and any other conditions you may have. We also have minimally invasive options for patients who may not be candidates for open surgery.

Meet the Heart Valve Disease Treatment Team

Our team includes a diverse group of cardiovascular specialists who provide all aspects of heart care, including electrophysiologists, interventional and structural cardiologists, vascular specialists, structural cardiac imagers, clinical cardiologists, lipidologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and rehabilitation specialists.

Cardiologists

Cardiothoracic Surgeons

Heart Valve Disease Clinical Trials

The physicians at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute are involved in clinical trials for heart valve disease, including a trial studying repair for the tricuspid valve using catheters. If you are interested in learning more about clinical trials, talk with your doctor or view a list of trials.

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