Unmatched expertise in minimally invasive heart valve replacement
With decades of experience, our heart specialists are internationally known experts in treating complex heart valve disease. We use cardiac catheterization (minimally invasive procedures using a thin, flexible tube inserted through a blood vessel) to treat structural heart conditions and avoid the need for open heart surgery.
At the Center for Structural Heart Disease, you can expect the highest quality care for heart valve disease. We offer:
- World-class expertise: Our medical director, William W. O’Neill, is one of the world’s most experienced interventional cardiologists (experts in catheter-based minimally invasive treatment). He leads a team of highly skilled physicians who are breaking new ground developing the latest transcatheter procedures for structural heart conditions. Your care is in the best hands possible with our heart valve physicians.
- Latest, most advanced treatments: We are true innovators in heart valve replacement. We pioneered transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and created the transcaval approach for the procedure. We are one of a few programs in Michigan to offer TAVR, which helps high-risk patients who have no other treatment options.
- Exclusive access to clinical trials: The structural heart team is among a select group of programs participating in advanced research and clinical trials. Our participation enables us to bring our patients the best treatment options available today. As our patient, you have access to research studies—unavailable at most other hospitals—that evaluate the next generation of minimally invasive treatments.
Conditions we treat with minimally invasive valve replacement
The heart experts at Henry Ford are always researching new ways to replace heart valves to treat people who may not be candidates for valve repair or open heart surgery. We can help even if your natural valve was damaged by illness or you have a previously implanted surgical valve that has failed.
The conditions we treat with transcatheter valve replacement include:
- Valve stenosis: The flaps of a heart valve may stiffen or fuse together so that they no longer fully open. These changes narrow the opening where blood flows through the heart.
- Valve regurgitation: The valve’s flaps may not completely close like they should. This causes blood to leak backward into the chambers of the heart instead of forward through the heart and into the body.
Both valve stenosis and regurgitation cause the heart to work harder to pump blood to the body. As a result, people with these conditions often feel tired and short of breath.
The valves that most commonly need replacement are the aortic and mitral valves. Read more about conditions that affect the four heart valves:
Advanced heart valve replacement procedures at Henry Ford
Through our participation in research and clinical trials, we can offer our patients access to the best available valve replacement procedures and devices—sometimes even before they are available at other hospitals.
Our valve specialists develop personalized treatment plans for each patient’s specific needs, offering hope for people who are too sick for traditional surgery. The lifesaving valve replacement procedures that we perform include: