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The valves in the heart open and close to allow blood to flow in and out of four chambers – the atria and the ventricles. These valves keep blood flowing in the right direction. The mitral valve is located between the heart's left atrium and left ventricle. The tricuspid valve is located between the heart's right atrium and ventricle.

When these valves are not functioning properly or are closing too tightly, blood flows back into the heart. It can cause fatigue, shortness of breath and overall poor heart function.

For severe cases of valve regurgitation, impaired ventricular function, elevated pulmonary artery pressures or atrial fibrillation, surgery is typically recommended.

Our expert cardiac surgeons specialize in the latest heart valve surgery techniques to treat heart valve issues such as mitral regurgitation, mitral stenosis, aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation or insufficiency, bicuspid aortic valve, aortic root dilatation and tricuspid regurgitation.

Our cardiac surgery team offers several types of heart valve surgery

Aortic Valve Surgery

Aortic valve repair and aortic valve replacement are procedures to treat a damaged or diseased aortic valve. The aortic valve is one of four valves that control blood flow in the heart. A diseased or damaged aortic valve can interfere with blood flow and force the heart to work harder to send blood to the rest of the body. Aortic valve repair or aortic valve replacement can improve blood flow, reduce symptoms of heart valve disease and prolong life.

Mitral and Tricuspid Valve Repair

A well-functioning native valve is ideal. Thanks to the surgical expertise of our team, many patients undergo valve repair instead of replacement, keeping the native valves in place, and increasing successful outcomes.

Mitral and tricuspid valve repair techniques include:

  • Repair holes that cause leakage
  • Repair and/or reconstruct the leaflets, using sutures and tissue that adds support to the valve

Mitral and Tricuspid Valve Replacement

In some cases, the native valve function cannot be restored and a valve replacement is necessary with a tissue or mechanical valve.

  • Mechanical valve replacement uses a metal valve to replace the diseased or irreparable native valve tissue. This device typically lasts a lifetime; however, patients must take anticoagulants (blood thinners) for life.
  • Tissue valve replacement utilizes animal valves from an animal which closely resemble human heart valves. Patients who receive tissue valves do not have to take life-long blood thinners.

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