Heart Valve Disease

Heart valve disease is a condition in which one or more heart valves don't work as they should. Valve problems may be present at birth or may be caused by infections, heart disease or heart attacks. The heart has four valves. Each valve has flaps of tissue that open and close with every heartbeat. The flaps make sure the blood flows in the right direction. One or more valves may not open fully or let blood leak back into the heart chambers, making the heart work harder and affect its ability to pump blood. Most heart valve problems have no symptoms and do not cause problems, but treatment is necessary in some cases.

Why UAB

With the first and largest comprehensive heart valve program in the state, UAB Medicine provides continuing care for patients who have or are at risk for valve disease. Our team of surgeons and cardiologists are among the nation’s most highly regarded physicians, and they provide a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of valve disease. From aortic valve stenosis to mitral valve regurgitation, and from traditional open-heart surgery to the latest in minimally invasive procedures and robotic-assisted valve repair surgery, UAB patients benefit from our expertise in treating patients with valve disease.

The UAB Comprehensive Valve Program has built an impressive list of accomplishments in recent years. Our cardiologists and heart surgeons performed the first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in Alabama; to date UAB has performed more TAVRs than any other hospital in the state. As an added service, patients who have been told by non-UAB doctors that they need valve surgery can speak to a UAB valve surgeon for a second opinion.

Images and Videos

Interventional cardiologist, Mark Sasse, MD, and UAB's team of heart and vascular surgeons and physicians provide unique, personalized care at Alabama's only nationally ranked hospital.

Dr. James Davies appeared on ABC 33/40's "Talk of Alabama" to discuss UAB's expertise in aortic valve replacement.

UAB’s 500th TAVR procedure gave this retired pastor and baseball player an opportunity to help others.

More about Ernest Tate's life-saving Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Physicians elsewhere said his options were limited, but UAB experts saved this patient's life with this groundbreaking new treatment for aortic valve stenosis.

WWII vet and three-time Purple Heart recipient is back on his feet after ambitious heart treatments and procedures.

Unique heart procedure—transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)--gives 89 year old a new lease on life

Transcathether Aortic Valve Replacement procedure puts Selma, Alabama's first black police chief closer to tending his farm.

Take a video tour of the UAB Heart & Vascular Clinic at Acton Road.

Haywood Fuller traveled to UAB for an accurate diagnosis and lifesaving surgery to correct his heart valve problem.

Patients like Sarah Ford travel to UAB because of the experienced surgeons and cutting-edge care.

For patients with aortic valve stenosis, who cannot undergo open heart surgery, the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure provides a welcome alternative.

Pulmonary valve replacement may not always require open heart surgery.

Heart valve disease affects patients of all ages, but there are effective treatments and lifestyle changes you can make to improve your condition.

PHYSICIANS

Constantine L. Athanasuleas, MD

Abbey M. Barrow, CRNP

Arka Chatterjee, MD

Marc G. Cribbs, MD

James E. Davies Jr., MD

Lisa Findley, CRNP, DNP

William L. Holman, MD

Massoud Leesar, MD

Sara J. Pereira, MD

Mohammed Sarraf, MD

Mark Sasse, MD

Related Conditions

Listed below are some conditions that may be related to or share some similarities with the condition addressed on this page.

CLINICAL TRIALS

UAB is an active participant in research and clinical trials for the diagnosis and treatment of heart valve disease. We encourage you to speak to your physician about research and clinical trial options and browse the link below for more information on clinical trials at clinicaltrials.gov.

View Clinical Trials