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What is structural heart?

Structural heart disease is an umbrella term that covers vascular defects of the heart. Structural heart procedures include heart valve repair and replacement that can be performed through small tubes known as catheters. 

Some heart conditions that fall under structural heart disease include: 

  • Mitral valve regurgitation -- A condition in which one of the valves of the heart, the mitral valve,  allows blood to leak backward into the heart. 

  • Aortic valve stenosis -- A valve in the heart, the aortic valve, that has narrowed and fails to open properly. 

  • Atrial Fibrillation -- A quivering or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.

What are my treatment options?

At St. Charles, our nationally-recognized structural heart team perform a number of cutting-edge, minimally invasive heart valve procedures, including: 

What can I expect if I’m referred to the structural heart team at St. Charles?

The St. Charles Structural Heart team is a multidisciplinary team of providers that include an interventional cardiologist, cardiac surgeon, structural heart PA, and additional clinical stuff. This coordinated team of providers work together to ensure your cardiovascular care is streamlined and comprehensive. 

Once you are referred to the St. Charles Structural Heart team by your cardiologist, our team works together to perform diagnostic and pre-procedure testing. We then collaborate on a multidisciplinary review of your case to determine the best course of action for your health and well-being. 

Following your procedure, your structural heart team at St. Charles keeps close tabs on your recovery. With follow-up appointments scheduled at 10 days, one month and one year, it is our goal is to improve your heart’s function while minimizing your symptoms and avoiding future complications.