Heart and Vascular Center
Valve DiseaseHeart valves may become diseased or defective as a result of infection, degeneration, or a problem a person is born with. Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin offer patients the latest diagnostic and treatment options for all types of valve disease — from simple to complex. Patients receive care in the Valvular Disease Clinic, a special clinic for patients with heart valve disease.
Minimally Invasive Valve SurgeryFroedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin excel in performing less invasive surgery to repair and replace heart valves. Traditional valve surgery involves making an 8- to 10-inch incision in the middle of the chest (through the sternum); the less invasive approach involves making two smaller incisions — a 2- to 3-inch incision under the breast to reach the heart valve and a 1.5- to 2-inch incision in the groin. The groin incision allows a long, thin tube to be inserted up to the heart to connect the patient to a heart-lung machine during surgery.
Most people with isolated valve problems are candidates for the less invasive approach. When less invasive surgery is possible, patients usually are able to return to normal physical activities one to two months sooner than with the open-chest procedure, and they tend have less pain after surgery.
The Heart and Vascular Center at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin performs a higher percentage of minimally invasive valve surgeries than any other healthcare facility in the region.
Mitral Valve RepairThe mitral valve can often be repaired, eliminating the need for replacement with an artificial valve. Valve repair required specialized techniques used regularly by surgeons at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin.
Last Review Date: June 18, 2008 Online Editor(s): Richard Petre |