Heart Valve Program

Patients at our heart valve program are seen by a team of experts, including cardiologists as well as cardiac surgeons.

This team approach provides the best possible care and can greatly reduce the need for multiple appointments.

We offer patients who need valve care a wide range of the latest treatment options, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), MitraClip therapy and Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (LAAO).

All Your Doctors, One Convenient Visit

UC San Diego Health's highly specialized cardiologists use a multidisciplinary approach to diagnose and manage heart valve disease. This often lets our patients be evaluated by all specialists in one visit — an approach that's unique to us.

Conditions We Treat

Valvular heart disease is any disease process involving one or more of the heart's four valves, which include the tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral and aortic valves.

Treatment can reduce symptoms such as weakness and shortness of breath, and can help prolong life. Our Valve Clinic treats all types of valve disease, including referrals of the most challenging cases. Conditions we treat include:

• Aortic valve stenosis
• Aortic valve insufficiency (regurgitation)
• Mitral valve stenosis
• Mitral valve insufficiency (regurgitation)
• All types of heart valve disease

Valve Repair & Replacement Procedures

Valve disease can be treated with medication, but depending on the severity of the case, valve repair surgery or replacement surgery (insertion of an artificial heart valve) is often necessary. Our surgeons are experts in performing all types of valve surgeries with excellent outcomes, including aortic valve repair and replacement, and complex mitral valve repairs.

See types of valve repairs and replacements

Traditional and Minimally Invasive Valve Surgeries

Although traditional open-heart surgery is still the standard for many patients, in certain patients with isolated valve disease, a minimally invasive approach can be used. In this approach, the surgery is performed through a small incision, providing access to the heart and lungs for surgical procedures such as surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), and mitral valve repairs and replacements.

We offer transcatheter valve repair (TMVR) with MitraClip therapy for patients who can benefit from this alternative to surgery.

Robotic-Assisted Cardiac Surgeries

Robotic-assisted surgery provides an even less invasive treatment option for valve surgery. Our surgeons use this approach to help address mitral and tricuspid valve disorders, cardiac tumors, some congenital defects, and select coronary bypass procedures. Robotically assisted surgery usually results in a shorter recovery time and hospital stay, allowing patients to quickly return to their normal daily activities and work.

Percutaneous Valve Replacement

When a patient's heart valve cannot be repaired, it must be replaced. In patients who may not be appropriate candidates for traditional or minimally invasive valve surgeries, percutaneous (through the skin) options allow a replacement valve to be delivered and placed through a catheter that is threaded through blood vessels. This is an alternative to open-heart surgery. Also see Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness