At Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, heart valve disease patients receive care 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 available technology and expertise, we’ve made huge strides in treating heart valve disease. We aim to stay at the forefront of minimally invasive, non-surgical procedures for our patients.
What type of heart valve conditions are treated at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute?
Our team excels in 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.
Heart valve disease happens when one of the heart valves no longer functions properly. This can be caused by 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.
Conditions & Treatments
- Aortic Diseases
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Valve Disorders
- Bacterial Endocarditis
- Cardiac Insufficiency
- Mitral Valve Disease
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Mitral Valve Surgery
- Pulmonary Valve Disorders
- Rheumatic Aortic Stenosis
- Rheumatic Fever
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Rheumatic Mitral Regurgitation
- Stenotic Valve Diseases
- Tricuspid Valve Disease
- Tricuspid Surgery
- Valvular Endocarditis
- Valvular Heart Disease
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Edwards Sapien Transcatheter Aortic Heart Valve
- Embolic-Protection Devices
- Prosthetic Heart Valves
- Replacement of Heart Valve
- Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
- Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair
How is heart valve disease diagnosed?
Heart valve conditions often cause fatigue and shortness of breath and can be accompanied by 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.
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How is heart valve disease treated at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute?
When treating heart valve disease, our team focuses on using 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 help them 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
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,” said 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
When you come to Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute for heart valve disease care, you can expect:
- A dedicated heart team that specializes in every aspect of your care, from imaging to surgery.
- An individualized approach. We’ll 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 option 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.