Valvular heart disease is the third most common cause of heart problems in the United States. There are four valves in the heart that direct blood flow forward through the chambers of the heart. Heart valve disease can occur with any one or a combination of the valves, and it will often lead to heart failure if left untreated.
Diseases of the mitral or aortic valves (the valves
of the left side of the heart) are most common, affecting over 5
percent of the population. Heart valve disease implies that a valve
either fails to open properly (stenosis) or fails to close properly,
allowing backward flow of blood (regurgitation).
Women develop problems with the heart valves just as often as men do and at all ages. In fact, there are some types of valve problems, such as abnormalities resulting from rheumatic fever and mitral valve prolapse, which occur more often in women. Valve disease is a particular challenge for women of childbearing age since in severe cases it may increase the risk of pregnancy for mother and baby. Older women are also at risk for developing leaky or blocked valves. Women with valvular heart disease therefore deserve special attention.
The Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute of Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Center for Heart Valve Disease is led by Nalini M. Rajamannan, MD,
director of the Center for Heart Valve Disease, who is known for her
research and care of patients with valvular heart disease. Dr.
Rajamannan's research focuses on how valve disease develops and how to
slow its progression. She will advance the Center for Heart Valve
Disease with Robert O. Bonow, MD and Patrick M. McCarthy, MD.
Dr. Bonow is recognized internationally for his expertise, research and
teaching on both aortic and mitral valve disease. He was recently the
chairman of the American Heart Association/American College of
Cardiology (AHA/ACC) Task Force on the Management of Patients With
Valvular Heart Disease. This Task Force updated the practice guidelines
that assist physicians in clinical decision making for the prevention,
diagnosis, and management of heart valve disease. Dr. McCarthy is a
renowned cardiovascular surgeon and an innovator of valve repair
techniques. He recently designed a mitral valve prosthetic ring that is
used to repair leaking mitral valves and it is regarded as one of the
best devices available.
It is a priority among the cardiologists and cardiac surgeons at the
Center for Heart Valve Disease to repair rather than replace heart
valves whenever possible to preserve a patient's own heart valve so
that blood thinning (anticoagulation) medications are not required.
When patients have combined disease of both the aortic valve and the
ascending aorta (the large vessel that houses the aortic valve and
takes blood out of the heart), the Center for Heart Valve Disease
strives to replace the diseased aorta and repair the aortic valve using
a technique known as "valve-sparing aortic root replacement."
Patients that come to the Center for Heart Valve Disease also benefit
from sophisticated imaging technology that can detect and evaluate some
types of heart valve disease even before symptoms appear. The Center
utilizes state-of- the-art noninvasive imaging for valvular heart
disease, which includes dual source 64 slice CTA, echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to view and study valvular heart disease.
Current clinical research trials
at the Center for Heart Valve Disease include the evaluation of new
valve repair and replacement techniques, new anticoagulation therapies,
and the effects of certain drug treatments on heart valve disease.
Techniques to utilize smaller, cosmetically appealing incisions have
been championed by the Center's surgeons. These techniques can allow a
more comfortable recovery and help patients return to their lives and
day-to-day activities more quickly.
Contact
Center for Heart Valve Disease
(866) 662-8467 (toll free)
