Valve Disease or Structural Problem
Structural Heart Program
Learning that you have a valve disease or a structural problem with your heart can be a lot to process. You may not fully understand what it means yet, or what your care path looks like. Structural heart care addresses conditions that affect the physical parts of the heart, including valves, walls, and small openings that can disrupt normal blood flow. Many of these conditions are now treated with minimally invasive, catheter-based approaches, so most patients do not need open-chest surgery to get the care they need. Richmond Heart and Vascular Associates has a structural heart program to give patients across Central Virginia access to these advanced procedures close to home.
Patient Type
Who This Program Is For
You may be referred to this program for several reasons. Some patients have aortic stenosis, a condition where the aortic valve gradually stiffens and narrows, making the heart work harder to push blood forward. Others have mitral valve regurgitation, where the mitral valve does not close all the way and blood flows in the wrong direction. Patent foramen ovale is a small natural opening in the wall between the heart’s chambers that some people carry into adulthood without ever knowing it. And for those living with atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm that significantly raises stroke risk, this program includes a procedure designed to address that risk directly, without relying on blood thinners long-term. If your doctor has referred you for a structural heart evaluation, you are in the right place.
Procedures
Our Structural Heart Procedures
Our team performs structural heart procedures, using the state-of-the-art techniques and devices, each designed to treat a specific condition with minimal disruption to your daily life.
TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) TAVR
TAVR is used when the aortic valve has narrowed to the point where it restricts blood flow out of the heart. Rather than open surgery, a new valve made from animal tissue is delivered through a catheter, typically inserted through a small incision in the leg. Most patients experience significant relief from symptoms and return to normal activity far sooner than traditional surgery would allow.
MitraClip (Mitral Valve Repair)
The mitral valve controls blood flow between the two left chambers of the heart. When it leaks, the heart compensates by working harder, and you may feel breathless, fatigued, or limited in what you can do. MitraClip delivers a small catheter-guided clip that holds the valve leaflets closer together, reducing the leak without the risks of open surgery.
Left Atrial Appendage Closure (WATCHMAN)
Patients with atrial fibrillation face an elevated risk of stroke because blood clots can form in a small pouch of the heart called the left atrial appendage. A WATCHMAN device is placed inside this pouch through a catheter and seals it off, preventing clots from entering the bloodstream. Over time, many patients are able to reduce or stop their blood thinner medication altogether.
PFO Closure
A patent foramen ovale is a small flap-like opening in the heart wall that is present at birth and usually seals on its own. When it remains open, blood clots can pass through it and travel to the brain, potentially causing a stroke. A catheter-delivered closure device permanently seals the opening in a safe, minimally invasive procedure.
Valvuloplasty
When a heart valve becomes stiff and narrowed due to stenosis, a valvuloplasty uses a small balloon on a catheter tip to widen the valve opening from the inside. The catheter is guided to the valve using imaging, the balloon is briefly inflated to separate the stiffened leaflets, and then removed. This procedure is most often recommended for mitral, aortic, or pulmonary valve stenosis.
A Dedicated Structural Heart Team
Structural heart care at Richmond Heart and Vascular Associates is a dedicated program, not a secondary service. Our team of cardiologists, nurses, and support staff focuses specifically on catheter-based structural heart procedures. Your care is multidisciplinary by design, meaning your proceduralist, cardiologist, and care coordinators stay in close contact throughout your treatment. You will know who you are working with at every step of the way.
Why our patients choose us
Why Choose Richmond Heart and Vascular Associates
When you are ready to take the next step, we make it easy. Schedule an appointment online at your convenience, or call Richmond Heart and Vascular Associates at 804.800.6600. Our office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.
Serving Central Virginia for more than 30 years
Advanced structural heart procedures performed by a dedicated structural heart team
The same care team follows you from your initial evaluation through your procedure and recovery
Board-certified cardiologists with specialized structural and interventional heart training