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Valvular Heart
Disease & TAVR

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What is Valvular Heart Disease?

Your heart features four essential valves — Aortic, Mitral, Tricuspid, and Pulmonary — that open and close with every heartbeat to ensure blood flows strictly forward through the heart chambers to the lungs and body.

Valvular heart disease develops when valves become calcified and stiffened (Stenosis), preventing full opening, or when valve leaflets fail to seal tightly (Regurgitation / Insufficiency), allowing blood to leak backward into the heart.

Over time, untreated valve disease can strain the heart and lead to complications like heart enlargement, rhythm problems, or heart failure.

What is Valvular Heart Disease - Overview Infographic

Symptoms of Valve Failure

Dizziness & Fainting (Syncope)

Sudden lightheadedness or fainting caused by temporary reduction of blood flow to the brain across a severe aortic valve stenosis.

Heart Palpitations & AFib

Fluttering or irregular heartbeats resulting from atrium stretching caused by valve regurgitation.

Ankle & Foot Swelling (Edema)

Fluid retention in lower extremities due to right-sided heart congestion and elevated venous pressure.

Chronic Fatigue & Weakness

Overwhelming tiredness caused by reduced cardiac output delivered to body organs.

Diagnostic Tests

Finding the right answers starts with understanding your heart. We use gentle, non-invasive imaging tests to assess how your heart valves open and close, measure blood flow, and determine the best care plan for your health.

Transthoracic Echocardiogram (TTE)

Standard 2D/3D non-invasive ultrasound to evaluate valve anatomy, leaflet mobility, and chamber dimensions.

Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)

High-resolution specialized ultrasound via an esophageal probe, providing clear, unobstructed views of complex valve structures.

Cardiac CT & Calcium Scoring

Detailed cross-sectional imaging evaluating aortic valve calcification and annular dimensions prior to TAVR or surgical intervention.

Valvular Heart Disease Diagnostic Tests Infographic

Treatment

Modern treatments include both surgery and less invasive catheter-based options for selected patients.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

Procedure

An expandable artificial valve is deployed inside the diseased aortic valve via a small leg artery catheter puncture.

MitraClipâ„¢ Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair

Procedure

A small clip is guided into the heart to hold mitral valve leaflets together and reduce severe mitral regurgitation.

Balloon Aortic / Mitral Valvuloplasty

Procedure

Catheter balloon inflation used to stretch open stiff, narrow heart valve openings in select symptomatic patients.

Surgical Valve Repair or Replacement

Procedure

Traditional or mini-thoracotomy surgical repair or replacement with mechanical or tissue prosthetic valves.

The main goal is to protect heart function and quality of life by monitoring carefully and treating at the right time—not too early or too late.

Frequently Asked Questions

Valvular Heart Disease occurs when one or more of the heart four valves (aortic, mitral, tricuspid, pulmonary) do not function properly. Valves may fail to open fully (stenosis) or fail to close tightly, allowing blood to leak backward (regurgitation/insufficiency).
TAVR is a revolutionary minimally invasive procedure that replaces a diseased aortic valve through a catheter inserted in the femoral groin artery. TAVR avoids traditional open-heart surgery, offering faster recovery and less pain for patients with severe aortic stenosis.
Common symptoms include shortness of breath during exertion, unusual fatigue, chest tightness, heart palpitations, lightheadedness or fainting (syncope), and fluid swelling in lower ankles.
Echocardiography (Transthoracic & Transesophageal 3D Echo) is the gold standard diagnostic tool. It uses ultrasound waves to visualize valve leaflet mobility, measure pressure gradients, and calculate effective valve orifice area.