Heart Valves

Valves are the gateways through which blood is pumped from the heart and lungs to the rest of the body.  Problems occur when a valve does not open wide enough (stenosis), close tightly enough (regurgitation), or both.  When these problems occur, not enough blood gets pumped out into the body.  Symptoms of a valve problem may include:

• Breathing problems
• Pain, pressure, or numbness in your chest, neck, back, or arms
• Angina
• Feeling dizzy or faint
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Fluttering feeling in your chest
• Swollen ankles or feet

Anyone can have a heart valve problem.  Some people are born with valve problems, or a valve may have worn out with age.  Other common causes include high blood pressure and other heart problems like coronary artery disease. 

Click here to watch a video explaining how valves work.

Cardiac Valve Surgery

Most cardiac valve surgeries are perfomed on the aortic or mitral valves of the left ventricle.  These valves are the inflow and outflow valves respectively, which receives blood from the lungs and pumps blood to the entire body.

Valve surgery involves two major categories:  valve repair and valve replacement.  Whenever possible, most surgeons prefer to repair a valve instead of replacing it.  The most common kind of valve repair surgery is sewing a ring around the valve entrance to improve its size and shape.  Another common valve repair surgery involves cutting tissue to allow valve leaflets to open or close better. 

When repair is not possible, the valve must be replaced.  In valve replacement surgery, the original valve is removed and replaced with an artificial valve made of either mechanical parts or biological tissues. 

Mechanical valves are made of graphite or hard carbon, and they can last for as long as 30 years.  However, if you receive a mechanical valve, you will need to be on a blood thinning medication for life to prevent blood clots that can occur because blood tends to stick to this type of artificial valve.      


Tissue valves usually come from a donated human heart or tissue from an animal such as a pig or cow.  The animal valves are sterilized and chemically treated for safe human use.  With this type of valve, you will only be on blood thinning medication for a short time because blood does not tend to stick to this type of valve.  However, tissue valves do not last as long as mechanical valves and may need to be replaced sooner. 
         
The choice between a mechanical valve vs. a biological valve is based on many factors, including patient preference, patient co-morbidities and life expectancy.  Your physician will help you make the right decision for your health.    

Valve disorders and diseases may also be treated by Interventional Cardiology.  Click here for more information. 

Providers

John G. Byrne, MD
Tarek S. Absi, MD
Rashid M. Ahmad, MD
Jorge M. Balaguer, MD
Stephen K. Ball, MD
David P. Bichell, MD
Karla G. Christian, MD
James P. Greelish, MD
Steven J. Hoff, MD
Betty S. Kim, MD
Michael R. Petracek, MD
Bonnie Cook, RN
Deborah Durrance, RN
Judy Ludwig, RN
Brandon Massey, RN
Patty Rush, RN
Jan Powers, RN
Grace Vicente, RN
Craig Cimberg, PA-C
Edmund J. Donahue, PA-C
Thomas M. Stahl, PA-C
Nora Cobb, ANP-BC
Anna Fong, ACNP-BC
April Kapu, ACNP-BC
Stacy Kelley, ACNP-BC
Veronica Rowan, ANP-BC
Megan Shifrin, ACNP-BC
Sean Smithey, ACNP-BC
Joshua Squiers, ACNP-BC
Kristie Walker, ACNP-BC
Brian Widmar, ACNP-BC