Valve Disease

The heart is made up of four chambers. As blood travels through the heart it exits each chamber through a one-way gate called a valve. There are four valves that move blood through the heart. On the right side there are the tricuspid and pulmonic valves. On the left side there are the mitral and aortic valves. The left side of the heart works hard to supply blood throughout the body. Therefore, the aortic and mitral valves most commonly require repair or replacement. The physicians at CVSA have repaired more mitral valves in the state of Wisconsin than any other group of Cardiac Surgeons.

Some people are born with valve disease; others experience problems as they age. A valve may require surgery when it is too narrow, a problem called stenosis, or the valve does not close tightly, referred as regurgitation or insufficiency. Common causes of valvular disease are: buildup of calcium or scar tissue, rheumatic fever and other infectious diseases, hypertension, or coronary artery disease.

During surgery your valve will either be repaired or replaced. That decision is based on many factors and your surgeon will discuss you specific treatment options with you at your consultation.