Heart Valve Disease

Overview

Treatment for heart valve disease depends on the type and severity of the diagnosis. In some cases, careful monitoring is all that is needed; in others, medications can control the symptoms and slow or halt the progression of the disease. However, more serious cases require surgery to repair or replace defective valves.

Mayo Clinic is one of the largest medical centers in the country for treatment of heart valve disease. Patients also benefit from Mayo Clinic's state-of-the-art facilities, leading-edge medical treatment, and access to appropriate clinical trials and new treatments for heart valve disease. Heart surgeons at Mayo Clinic have extensive experience and expertise in repairing and replacing heart valves and have developed innovative surgical techniques. Each year, Mayo Clinic cardiac surgeons repair or replace more than 1,500 valves.

Diagnosis

Within a few days, a team of heart valve disease specialists at Mayo Clinic coordinates the patient's diagnosis to provide a complete examination, diagnosis and extensive patient education — from patients who want to have a heart murmur checked out to those who have been told they have advanced heart valve disease. Read more about heart valve disease diagnosis.

Treatment Options

There are four heart valves, and treatment varies depending on the valve and the problem with that valve. For more information about specific types of valve disease, see:

• aortic valve disease
• mitral valve disease
• pulmonary valve disease
• tricuspid valve disease

Treatment of heart valve disease depends on the severity of symptoms. For mild valve disease, no treatment may be necessary other than careful monitoring at regular medical checkups.

For moderate valve disease, medications can alleviate many symptoms, and combined with some activity restrictions, that may be all that is needed for a long time.

Severely narrowed or leaking valves usually require surgical intervention. Mayo Clinic surgeons have a strong record of excellence in heart valve repair and replacement, including minimally invasive techniques. Read more about heart valve surgery.

Regular follow-up by health care providers is important. Actively observing the stability or the progression of heart valve disease is important so that the right treatment can be started at the right time. Valves need to be repaired or replaced before irreversible damage occurs. Read more about heart valve disease treatment options.

• Treatment in Arizona
• Treatment in Florida
• Treatment in Minnesota
• Treatment of Children & Adolescents

About Heart Valve Disease

The four valves in the heart keep blood flowing in and out properly. Sometimes, though, the valves don't open or close right, disrupting the blood flow to the body.

Read more at
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