Structural Heart and Heart Valve Surgery

Our doctors have extensive experience fixing severe mitral valve regurgitation using a small clipping device called a MitraClip.

Mitral valve regurgitation occurs when blood flows back into your heart because your mitral valve doesn't close tightly.

This minimally invasive treatment can help you avoid a more serious surgical procedure. Your doctor:

1. Threads a catheter through a blood vessel in the groin to reach the heart
2. Inserts the MitraClip into the catheter
3. Clips the device directly onto the mitral heart valve to close leaky valve leaflets

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) and atrial septal defect (ASD) are holes that can form in your heart and sometimes cause a stroke.

To prevent strokes, our doctors permanently implant a device called the GORE® CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder. This device can reduce the risk of stroke by almost 80 percent.

To implant the device, your doctor:

1. Uses light sedation
2. Inserts a catheter through a vein in your leg
3. Threads the compressed occluder through the catheter to close or fill the hole

TAVR is a minimally invasive treatment for severe aortic stenosis (stiffening of the aortic valve) that replaces your faulty valve. We perform a high volume of these procedures each year, earning us a reputation as a destination medical center.

To perform this treatment, your doctor:

1. Inserts a catheter into a blood vessel in the groin or chest
2. Places a self-expanding valve into the heart through the catheter

Traditional TAVR uses a femoral artery in your groin. When your femoral artery is too narrow or diseased, our doctors use a new technique to perform TAVR. Transcaval TAVR involves threading the valve through a large vein in your abdomen.

Some people need additional valve surgery after an earlier valve replacement procedure. We are a national leader in placing new valves using a percutaneous (through the skin) approach. Our surgeons can perform this technique to replace an aortic, mitral or tricuspid tissue valve implanted during previous open-heart surgery.

This valve-in-valve technique takes place through a catheter inserted into your femoral artery. There is no surgical incision, which means the procedure places less stress on your heart and body. Instead of removing the damaged valve, specialists place the new valve inside it. Then, they expand the new valve, which pushes the old valve out of the way.

Our heart experts and oncologists routinely participate in research and clinical trials. Please learn more at Sentara Health Research Center.

Vascular Care and Surgery

Call 1-800-SENTARA (1-800-736-8272) to learn more.