Structural Heart & Valve Disease

Structural heart and valve disease is a condition that involves problems with the tissues or valves in the heart. The heart has four valves, and each one has flaps of tissue that open and close with every heartbeat. The flaps make sure blood flows in the right direction. When one or more valves doesn’t open fully or lets blood leak back into the heart chambers, it makes the heart work harder and reduces its ability to pump blood. This can lead to serious health issues.

Structural heart and valve problems often are present at birth (congenital) but also can be caused by infection, heart disease, or heart attack. The condition may have no symptoms and cause no problems, but treatment is needed in other cases. When symptoms are present, they can include chest pain or tightening, shortness of breath, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, leg cramps, migraine headaches, and stroke (including transient ischemic attack, also known as a TIA or mini-stroke).

Why UAB

The UAB Structural Heart & Valve Program is the oldest and largest program of its kind in Alabama. It provides ongoing care – sometimes for life – to patients who have or are at risk for structural heart and valve disease. Our experienced surgeons and cardiologists take a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating this condition, and their expertise ranges from traditional open-heart surgery to robotic-assisted valve repair and the latest in minimally invasive surgical techniques, which require only small incisions (cuts).

The UAB Structural Heart & Valve Clinic has achieved several important milestones in the past decade. In 2012, we performed the first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in Alabama, and UAB has performed more TAVR procedures 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 structural heart and valve surgeon for a second opinion.

 

VIDEOS

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.

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

 

CARE PROVIDERS

Mustafa I. Ahmed, MD
Mustafa I. Ahmed, MD
Marc G. Cribbs, MD
Marc G. Cribbs, MD
James E. Davies Jr., MD
James E. Davies Jr., MD
Kyle W. Eudailey, MD
Kyle W. Eudailey, MD
Clifton Lewis, Sr., MD
Clifton Lewis, Sr., MD
Mouhamed Sabouni, MD
Mouhamed Sabouni, MD
Sasha Still, MD
Sasha Still, MD
Panayotis Vardas, MD
Panayotis Vardas, MD
 

RELATED SERVICES

CLINICAL TRIALS

UAB is an active participant in research and clinical trials. We encourage you to speak to your physician about research and clinical trial options and browse the link below for more information.

View Clinical Trials