Heart Valve Program

Heart valve disease is a potentially serious structural heart problem impacting one or more of the four valves that regulate blood flow through the heart.

At Hoag’s Bill & Nancy Thompson Heart Valve Center, our highly experienced team of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, radiologists and registered vascular technologists is dedicated to providing Orange County’s most advanced range of minimally invasive procedures, diagnostics and tests for heart valve disease. Hoag offers excellence in diagnostics and treatment options leading to better outcomes and quality of life for patients who need heart valve care in Orange County, and that’s what our neighbors deserve. If you are concerned about Heart Valve Disease, contact Hoag today by calling 949-764-8258.

Many people with heart valve issues experience symptoms so slight that they may not even know they have an issue until the disease progresses or they are diagnosed during a checkup or unrelated procedure.

For more detailed information about the symptoms and risk factors for specific heart valve disorders, Hoag has deep-dives on a variety of valvular heart conditions, including:

Aortic Valve Disease

Mitral Valve Disease

Tricuspid Valve Disease

If you visit a doctor or emergency room with symptoms that suggest you might have a heart valve issue, you will likely be given a thorough physical exam. This will usually include a blood pressure check and listening to your heart and the operation of your heart valves.

In particular, your healthcare provider will likely listen for what’s called a heart murmur, which is a whooshing sound that can indicate turbulent blood flow caused by damage to the heart valves.

You’ll also likely be asked about your symptoms, how long you’ve been experiencing them, your personal and family history of cardiovascular issues, valve issues, high blood pressure and more.

Depending on the outcome of this examination, you may be asked to submit to further testing to help diagnose heart valve disease or rule it out.

Confirming or ruling out a diagnosis of heart valve disease usually involves a variety of techniques, often including imaging tests, physical exams and medical procedures.

The Bill & Nancy Thompson Heart Valve Center at Hoag offers patients in Orange County world-class diagnosis, imaging and testing for conditions that can affect the delicate interplay of the valves of heart valves.

A cohesive, patient-focused home to internationally known cardiovascular specialists, cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists, this hub for advanced, life-changing heart valve care is dedicated to offering the best and most advanced treatment for heart valve disease in Orange County, for every patient, in every interaction.

Learn more about the advanced treatment options for heart valve disease available at Hoag.

Hoag’s Bill & Nancy Thompson Heart Valve Center is dedicated to utilizing the best and most advanced imaging and diagnostic technology available in the diagnosis of heart valve disease, resulting in individualized treatment plans that save lives and preserve quality of life.

Medical tests used to diagnose heart valve disease include:

Cardiac Catheterization

Also called coronary angiography, cardiac catheterization is a less-invasive method that allows physicians to get a clear view of the heart muscle, the heart’s valves and the overall function of the heart.

During the procedure, a long, thin instrument called a catheter is inserted through a blood vessel in the arm or leg, then painlessly guided through the body to the heart. Once the catheter is in position, the catheter is used to inject a substance called contrast dye into the heart.

This substance makes the structures of the heart much more visible on X-rays. X-ray videos are then taken of the chest, allowing specialists to get a clear view of any issues, including potential valve disease.

3D Echocardiography

Echocardiography with 3D imaging is an advanced form of echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to create detailed, three-dimensional images of the heart in motion in order to confirm or rule out valve disease. At Hoag, real-time 3D echocardiography allows physicians to detect or monitor even mild or otherwise overlooked abnormalities in the heart’s valves, as well as other cardiac conditions.

Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)

Transesophageal Echocardiogram, or TEE, is an advanced form of echocardiography that utilizes a small ultrasound transducer that is painlessly inserted down the esophagus to place it closer to the heart. Without interference from the chest muscles, lungs and ribs, this allows physicians to capture much more detailed images of the heart, particularly the upper chambers and the valves that service them.

Cardiac MRI

A special form of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cardiac MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to create detailed images of a patient’s heart, including the heart valves.

Stress Testing

Stress testing measures and evaluates the function of the heart and heart valves while the patient is performing some sort of exercise, such as riding a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill. If a patient is too ill to perform exercise, drugs may be administered that simulate the effect.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

Electrocardiogram is a non-invasive test that allows health care providers to evaluate the electrical function and regularity of the heart. One of the first tests that is typically administered after a cardiac event like a heart attack, severe chest pain or heart arrhythmia, an electrocardiogram can give physicians crucial information about how your heart is functioning.

Explore heart valve treatment options at Hoag.

Part of the Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute, the Nancy & Bill Thompson Heart Valve Center at Hoag is committed to patient-centered care and finding and utilizing the best and latest advancements in diagnostic imaging and less-invasive techniques, means you have access to an advanced heart valve disease program for the most challenging and complex heart valve issues, right here in Orange County.

Why? Because that’s what our community in Huntington Beach, Irvine, Anaheim, Newport Beach and Aliso Viejo deserve: heart valve care near you that’s accessible and world-class.

From robotic-assisted heart valve procedures to advanced valve repair, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to next-generation treatments for mitral regurgitation, nobody knows hearts like the compassionate team of cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and specialists at Hoag.

Orange County’s standard in cardiovascular disease care is set every day at Hoag. Contact us today by calling 949-764-8258.

Orange County is home to over 3.1 million Californians. They’re our neighbors, our coworkers and our friends. And every day, Hoag delivers the compassionate, patient-focused care and life-changing treatment options for heart valve disease that Orange County residents deserve.

Hoag’s Nancy & Bill Thompson Heart Valve Center is a nationally-respected hub for the diagnosis and treatment of heart valve disease. Committed to the study and treatment of conditions that can impact the function of the heart valves, this unique center is driven by a program-wide dedication to the advanced diagnosis and treatment options that can improve outcomes for every patient with heart valve disease. For help, contact Hoag today by calling 949-764-8258.

The treatment options for heart valve disease depend on the symptoms you may be experiencing, whether you’re strong enough for surgery, your overall health and other factors.

If your symptoms are mild, treatment may consist of lifestyle changes, along with monitoring the condition through regular visits to a cardiologist or other health care provider. This is also known as active surveillance.

However, if your heart valve issue has progressed to the point that it is limiting your ability to do day-to-day activities or has become life-threatening, other treatment options may be required to help control your symptoms or keep you from experiencing life-threatening complications, including cardiac arrest.

At Hoag, treatment and management options for heart valve disease may include:

Lifestyle Changes

For patients who are newly diagnosed with a heart valve disorder and other cardiovascular conditions, lifestyle changes are often part of the treatment plan. These changes may include:

• Eating a heart-healthy diet that’s low in salt, sugar, fat and cholesterol, with plenty of fruits and vegetables

• Getting plenty of regular exercise

• Quitting smoking

• Maintaining a healthy weight

Medications

While medication alone cannot cure heart valve disease, patients diagnosed with conditions such as valve regurgitation, prolapse or other heart valve problems are often prescribed certain medications. These medications can lessen symptoms, keep blood flowing to the body and decrease the risk of dangerous and serious complications like heart attack or stroke.

Medications commonly prescribed to help treat heart valve disease or control symptoms related to heart valve issues include:

• ACE inhibitors and ARBs: Types of what are known as vasodilators, these medications open the blood vessels, helping slow the effects of heart failure and reduce elevated blood pressure.

• Diuretics: Also called “water pills,” diuretics help remove excess fluid from the body, which can reduce stress on the heart.

• Antibiotics: These drugs can help treat bacterial infections that may have invaded the heart muscle and heart valves.

• Beta-blockers: Also known as beta adrenergic blockers, these drugs block the body’s output of adrenaline and noradrenaline, hormones which can contribute to the heart beating more forcefully than it should. This can lower the heart rate, along with the strain on the heart and blood vessels.

• Anti-arrhythmics: If a patient has a rapid heartbeat or a heartbeat that is irregular or too slow, these medications regulate and restore a more normal rhythm.

• Anticoagulants: Also known as blood thinners, these drugs help prevent blood clots, which can lead to a stroke.

The Bill & Nancy Thompson Heart Valve Center at Hoag is a leader in the diagnosis and treatment of heart valve issues.

At Hoag, surgical procedures to treat heart valve diseases include:

Valve Repair

Valve repair is a surgery that works to mend and heal a diseased or damaged valve instead of replacing it. In most cases, repairing a patient’s natural valve is usually seen as preferable to valve replacement.

At Hoag, types of valve repair surgeries include:

• David Valve-Sparing Aortic Root Replacement: This procedure is utilized to replace structures called the ascending aorta and the aortic root, without replacing the aortic valve. During the procedure, the aortic valve is re-implanted inside a tube graft made from a material called Dacron, with the coronary arteries then re-attached to the Dacron. This procedure is particularly effective for treating patients with trileaflet aortic valves with a small amount of aortic insufficiency (aortic leakage).

• Yacoub Remodeling Procedure: The Yacoub remodeling procedure creates a new aortic root out of Dacron with a scalloped shape. This scalloped aortic root experiences less shear force while working, which adds durability to the repair.

• Valvuloplasty: Usually performed through cardiac catheterization, which utilizes a long, thin tube called a catheter that’s guided through the body, valvuloplasty is often employed in cases involving valve stenosis (narrowing of a heart valve) due to the flaps of the valve becoming damaged or in cases where the valve flaps are stuck together. During a valvuloplasty procedure to correct valve stenosis, for example, a small balloon at the tip of the catheter is positioned near the narrowed valve, then inflated. This helps make the valve opening larger or separates valve flaps that may be fused together.

• Annuloplasty: Sometimes performed together with other heart valve repair procedures, annuloplasty is a surgery to tighten or reshape a ring of tissue around the heart valves called the annulus, which can sometimes become misshapen or enlarged, resulting in regurgitation or stenosis.

• Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair: In certain cases, mitral valve stenosis or mitral regurgitation can be fixed through a less-invasive procedure called Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair, or

  Transcatheter Edge to Edge Repair (TEER). During the procedure, cardiothoracic surgeons guide a catheter through the circulatory system to the mitral valve, then use it to complete the repair. This state-of-the-art, catheter-delivered valve repair surgery often results in a faster recovery with less pain.

• Robotic-Assisted Valve Repair Surgery: Hoag is a pioneer in robotic assisted heart valve repair surgery, including robotic assisted mitral valve repair and tricuspid valve repair. During these procedures, a robot assists human surgeons, performing valve repair through small incisions in the chest. In addition to allowing surgeons to repair damaged valves that might once have required replacement, robotic assisted mitral valve surgery can also result in less pain, faster recovery time and a shorter hospital stay.

  Learn more about Robotic-Assisted Heart Valve Surgery at Hoag

Valve Replacement

As the name suggests, valve replacement is a procedure in which the patient’s damaged or diseased aortic valve is removed and replaced, either with an artificial valve (also known as a mechanical valve) or what are called “tissue valves.” A tissue valve is made with human tissue from a donor, or — more rarely — a heart valve from an animal source.

At Hoag, types of heart valve replacement surgeries we perform include:

• Conventional Valve Replacement Surgery: Conventional heart valve replacement has greatly advanced in recent years, giving cardiovascular surgeons and patients multiple options for replacement valves. In many cases, options include: mechanical valves, stentless valves and valves from human donors (also known as homograft aortic valves). Which type of valve is used depends on the patient’s cardiac structure, age, medical history and other factors.

• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): ​Transcatheter aortic valve implantation, or TAVR, is an advanced, minimally invasive procedure that utilizes a small, thin tube called a catheter, which is fed through the body to the aorta. This catheter is then used to remove the diseased or damaged aortic valve and implant a replacement valve. For 2023-2024, U.S. News & World Report named Hoag a High-Performing Hospital — their highest distinction — in multiple cardiac disciplines, including Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

• Bentall with Bioprosthesis or Prosthesis: Bentall with Bioprosthesis is a procedure that utilizes a graft to replace the aortic valve, root and the entire ascending aorta, with the coronary arteries implanted in the graft using what are known as aortic buttons. The procedure is often used in patients with severe connective tissue disorders like Marfan syndrome, and in cases involving dilation of the ascending aorta, aortic root and annulus.​

• Robotic-Assisted Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery: Hoag is a pioneer in robotic assisted heart valve surgery, including robotic assisted mitral valve replacement. During this procedure, a robot assists human surgeons, performing mitral valve replacement through small incisions in the chest. Robotic assisted mitral valve surgery can result in less pain, faster recovery time and a shorter hospital stay.

Another change that may greatly benefit patients recovering from certain cardiovascular conditions and procedures is joining a cardiac rehabilitation program.

For patients in Orange County who have had heart valve surgical repair or replacement, Hoag’s cardiac rehabilitation program can be a literal lifesaver, helping patients come back stronger, with fewer symptoms and complications.

In Orange County, Hoag offers comprehensive, physician-supervised cardiac rehabilitation programs in both Newport Beach and Irvine-Sand Canyon, so the support our neighbors need is just a short trip away. Talk with your cardiologist about a referral to cardiac rehabilitation.

Visit this link to learn more about cardiac rehabilitation at Hoag.

Need Heart Valve Treatment in Orange County?

For patients in need of advanced treatment for heart valve disease in Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Yorba Linda, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and other communities across Orange County, the world-class cardiovascular team at Hoag stands ready to help you overcome the biggest health challenges of your life.

Part of the Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute, Hoag’s Nancy & Bill Thompson Heart Valve Center is dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of valvular heart disease, including care for heart patients with conditions involving the pulmonary, aortic, tricuspid or mitral valves. For 2023-2024, U.S. News & World Report named Hoag a High-Performing Hospital — their highest distinction — in multiple cardiac disciplines, including Aortic Valve Surgery and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

From aortic stenosis to mitral regurgitation, congenital heart disease to high-risk valve repair procedures, Hoag has the tools, the technology, the programs and the award-winning team of board-certified cardiologists and cardiac surgeons you need for heart valve disease.

If you need heart valve repair or replacement in Orange County, contact Hoag today by calling 949-764-8258.