Valve & Structural Heart Care
Expert care for structural heart disease
Specialized Care for Heart Structures and Valves
The Structural Heart Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) provides expert, multidisciplinary care for conditions that affect the structures of the heart and heart valves. We provide advanced diagnostic techniques to diagnose adult congenital and acquired (developed over time) structural heart disease. From evaluation to treatment, our team works together to deliver you the best possible outcome.
Understanding Structural Heart Disease
Structural heart disease is any abnormality of the heart and great arteries. This includes conditions of the heart muscle, heart valves and their supporting structures such as heart walls.
Structural Heart Conditions We Treat
Our specialists treat the full range of structural heart conditions:
- Aortic valve disease
- Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
- Atrial septal defect (ASD)
- Cardiogenic shock
- Cardiomyopathy
- Mitral valve disease
- Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
- Patent foramen ovale (PFO)
- Pulmonary valve disease
- Tricuspid valve disease
- Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
Heart Valve Care
We provide you with specialized care, no matter your needs. Here are the four types of heart valves and their primary functions:
- Aortic valve — allows blood to flow from the heart’s left ventricle (lower chamber) to the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body that carries oxygenated blood throughout your body
- Mitral valve — allows blood to flow from the left atrium (upper chamber) to the left ventricle, and prevents backflow of blood
- Pulmonary valve — allows blood to pump from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery, supplying oxygen to the lungs
- Tricuspid valve — allows blood to pump from the right atrium to the right ventricle, and prevents backflow of blood
Heart Valve Conditions We Treat
In addition to giving specialized care for less common conditions, we treat the three main types of heart valve disease:
- Atresia — congenital (present at birth) valve problem
- Regurgitation — leaky valve that allows backflow of blood
- Stenosis — narrowed valve
More About Valve & Structural Heart Care
Our team works with you to develop an individualized care and treatment plan. We offer a wide array of treatments for structural heart disease, including surgical, nonsurgical and hybrid approaches that combine the two.
Traditional open-heart surgery used to be the only effective option for most structural heart conditions. Today, our interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons also perform many nonsurgical and hybrid procedures for structural heart disease.
Our active participation in research studies provides you with access to promising new treatment options through clinical trials.
Our interventional cardiology team offers the latest treatment options for valve and structural heart disease. We offer balloon valvuloplasty to treat stenosis of the valves, including aortic valvuloplasty and mitral valvuloplasty.
During this procedure, the surgeon inserts a tiny balloon using a catheter (thin, flexible tube) and inflates it in the narrowed valve. This opens up the valve and allows the valve to function better.
If you have aortic stenosis, your doctor may recommend transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) as a treatment option.
We offer minimally invasive placement of therapeutic devices such as cardiopulmonary support devices and MitraClip.
Our team of experts perform minimally invasive mitral valve repair to treat mitral regurgitation. We are leaders in the use of MitraClip therapy. This treatment improves outcomes and quality of life for those with both primary and secondary mitral regurgitation who are at high risk for open-heart surgery.
Our surgeons perform surgeries to close congenital (present since birth) heart problems, including these:
- Patent foramen ovale (PFO)
- Atrial septal defect (ASD)
- Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
Uncorrected, these holes can lead to heart, lung or blot clot issues. This is because congenital heart problems prevent blood from flowing normally among the four chambers of the heart. During the closure, the surgeon closes holes between the chambers of the heart.
Paravalvular leak closure repairs a valve that already has been replaced, but begins to leak. The doctor may perform this closure surgically or through a non-surgical, interventional procedure (using a catheter inserted into an artery in the groin to access the site of the leak).
Our heart and vascular surgery team offers the latest in hybrid and open surgical procedures. Our cardiac surgeons are highly experienced in aortic valve replacement. During this procedure, the surgeon removes a faulty or diseased aortic valve and replaces it with an artificial or donor valve.
Meet the Team
Specialists at the Structural Heart Center provide care for conditions that affect the structures of the heart and heart valves.
Nurse Practitioners
- Sue Papazian, NP
- Beatie Ultimo, NP
Nurses
- Natasha Cantone, RN
- Tobie Garis, RN
- Jenifer Kaufman, DNP
- Allison Marshall
- Lauren Mills, RN
- Janine Schmidt, RN
Advancing Care, Research & Education
CardioVascular Institute
The CardioVascular Institute offers heart and vascular patient care, education opportunities for students, and a range of research programs.
Cardiovascular Research
Our Cardiovascular Research programs are dedicated to advancing cardiovascular care through scientific research, clinical trials and data analysis.
Cardiovascular Education
The CardioVascular Institute offers comprehensive education and training programs for healthcare professionals, including fellowships and residencies.
