Valve & Structural Heart Center
The Valve & Structural Heart Center at Oklahoma Heart Institute is Tulsa’s first heart valve clinic of its kind and remains the premier program with the highest level of superior outcomes in northeast Oklahoma. Our specialists are the most advanced and experienced in performing minimally invasive catheter-based procedures on the heart and heart valves. They have access to FDA-approved transcatheter valve replacements as well as cutting edge clinical trial treatments when applicable. Our multidisciplinary team of interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and cardiovascular imaging specialists partner to develop individualized treatment plans for each patient. Together, they are committed to ensuring each patient receives compassionate and cutting edge care.
First in Tulsa or Oklahoma
Clinical Trials and Studies
OHI participates in many major clinical studies and trials evaluating new procedures and devices to repair and replace heart valves and treat heart failure with minimally-invasive techniques (without surgery). You can view current studies happening at OHI here.
How Does Your Heart Work?
The heart is designed to pump blood through your body. The right side of your heart pumps blood through the lungs, where the blood picks up oxygen. The left side of the heart receives this blood and pumps it into the rest of your body. Each time your heart beats it pumps blood through valves by contracting its chambers. These valves open in one direction allowing blood to flow forward. In between beats, the heart’s chambers quickly relax, and its valves close, preventing blood from flowing backward.
Aortic Valve
Controls blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta, sending blood to the rest of the body.
Pulmonary Valve
Controls blood flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery, sending blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen.
Tricuspid Valve
Controls blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
Mitral Valve
Controls blood flow from the left atrium and left ventricle.
Two common heart valve problems are stenosis and regurgitation. Stenosis is when your valve narrows and does not completely open because of problems like high cholesterol (waxy fat), age, genetics (such as a birth defect) or the buildup of calcium. Regurgitation is when your valve does not fully close and allows blood to leak backwards through the valve.
MITRAL VALVE REGURGITATION
The mitral valve is the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle of your heart. When your mitral valve’s two leaflets (or flaps) do not close properly, some blood flows backward through the valve back into the left atrium.
This is called mitral regurgitation (MR). As a result, blood can’t move through your heart or to the rest of your body as efficiently, making you feel tired or out of breath. Treatment of mitral regurgitation depends on how severe your condition is, whether it is getting worse and whether you have symptoms. Untreated severe mitral regurgitation can cause heart failure or heart rhythm problems.
Normal
Regurgitation
SEVERE AORTIC STENOSIS
Aortic stenosis is often caused by the build-up of calcium (mineral deposits) on the aortic valve’s leaflets (flaps of tissue that open and close to regulate the one-way flow of blood through the aortic valve). This build-up of calcium on the leaflets impairs the aortic valve’s ability to fully open and close. As a result, the narrowed valve allows less oxygen-rich blood to flow from the lungs to the brain and rest of the body which may cause symptoms like severe shortness of breath and extreme fatigue. Eventually, the heart’s muscles weaken, increasing the patient’s risk of heart failure and death. Severe aortic stenosis is a very serious problem. Without treatment, half of the people who feel sick from this problem die within an average of two years.
Healthy Aortic Valve
Diseased Aortic Valve
Living with severe aortic stenosis or moderately severe/severe mitral regurgitation can make life difficult. Are you short of breath constantly? Do you miss out on events with family and friends because you don’t have the energy? Are you no longer able to do the things you used to enjoy? If so, you may be at risk for heart valve disease.
ALCOHOL SEPTAL ABLATION FOR HYPERTROPHIC OBSTRUCTIVE CARDIOMYOPATHY
Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) is an inherited condition that results in abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, specifically the walls of the ventricles and septum. HOCM can lead to clinical heart failure, life-threatening arrhythmias, mitral regurgitation and sudden cardiac death.
Alcohol septal ablation is a non-surgical procedure to treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. During this procedure, a small puncture is made and a catheter (thin, flexible tube) with a small, deflated balloon attached to the tip is inserted and thread through a blood vessel to the artery that carries blood to the septum. Alcohol is then injected, through the tube, into the area where the heart is too thick. This causes heart muscle cells to shrink and die. The remaining scar tissue is thinner than the heart muscle and improves blood flow. The balloon is then deflated and guided back out through the vessel and removed. The small puncture is sealed.
BALLOON VALVLOPLASTY
Balloon valvuloplasty is a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with degenerative valve disease (deterioration of the heart valves). During balloon valvuloplasty, the physician will make a small puncture and insert a catheter (thin, flexible tube) with a small, deflated balloon attached to the tip and thread it through a blood vessel. Once the catheter reaches the damaged valve, the balloon is inflated to stretch the valve opening to allow more blood flow. The balloon is then deflated and guided back out through the vessel and removed. The small puncture is sealed. The patient is generally awake during this procedure and recovery time is considerably shorter than traditional surgery. However, balloon valvuloplasty is not a permanent solution and often has to be repeated at a later date.
LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE CLOSURE (LAA)
The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a small pouch on the left side of the heart. Patients with atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm) have a high risk of blood clots forming in the LAA. These clots can dislodge from the LAA and block blood flow to crucial parts of the body, including the brain which can cause a stroke. Oral anticoagulation (blood thinning) medications may be used to reduce the risk of clots but these medications are not safe or appropriate for some patients. In such cases, LAA closure is a viable minimally invasive treatment option.
During LAA closure, a small incision is made and a catheter (thin, flexible tube) is inserted and used to deliver a closure device to the left side of the heart. There, the device is inserted into the LAA and expanded like an umbrella to seal off the entrance to the pouch. The catheter is then removed and the incision is stitched up.
MITRAL TRANSCATHETER EDGE-TO-EDGE REPAIR (MitraClip AND PASCAL)
Percutaneous mitral valve clip placement is a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with severe leaking of the mitral valve (or mitral valve regurgitation). During this procedure, the physician makes a small puncture through which a catheter (thin, flexible tube) is inserted to deliver a small clip into the heart via the femoral vein (located in the upper thigh). Once in place, the clip is attached to the leaflets (“swinging doors”) of the mitral valve to improve their function and the catheter is removed. Because this procedure is minimally invasive, the recovery time is substantially shorter than with traditional open heart surgery.
TMVR (MitraClip) Expectations Flyer
MitraClip Patient Testimonial – Clifford Stout
Celebrating 500 TAVR & 100 MitraClip Patients
Celebrating 1,000 TAVR Patients
PERCUTANEOUS MITRAL VALVE REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR
In patients with severe leaking or narrow mitral valves, we have the ability to replace the mitral valve utilizing a percutaneous approach. This procedure can be utilized in patients who have previously had mitral valve surgery or in patients who have mitral regurgitation or stenosis of their native valve. This procedure can be performed through a small incision in the femoral vein (located in the upper thigh).
PULMONARY VEIN AND ARTERY STENTING
This minimally invasive procedure is used to open up a pulmonary blood vessel (carries blood to and from the lungs) that may have narrowed for a variety of reasons. During the procedure, a small incision is made and a stent (small mesh tube) is placed over a tiny deflated balloon and delivered to the narrowed portion of the vessel using a catheter (thin, flexible tube) fed through a vein. Once in place, the balloon is inflated, thereby expanding the stent and anchoring it in place. The balloon and catheter are then removed and the incision is stitched up.
SEPTAL DEFECT AND PATENT FORAMEN OVALE CLOSURE
We were the first program in Tulsa to offer comprehensive adult cardiac interventional services including non-surgical closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) and atrial septal defect (ASD) to repair these potentially life-threatening heart defects. People born with small holes in their heart have either a septal defect or patent foramen ovale (PFO). Traditionally, these patients may have faced a lifetime of anticoagulant therapy or open heart surgery in order to repair the hole and reduce the high risk of stroke.
During this procedure, the physician makes a small puncture and inserts a hollow catheter (thin, flexible tube) to be threaded through a blood vessel and guided to the site of the defect. Once in place, it is used to deliver a collapsed mesh closure device to be placed inside the defect. The device is then delivered, expanding the block the hole and hold the device in place. The catheter is then removed and the puncture closed. The procedure usually requires a one-night hospital stay. Recovery time following the procedure is considerable shorter compared to traditional surgery.
TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT (TAVR)
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve). TAVR is a state-of-the-art alternative to open heart surgery and has been shown to be highly effective. During TAVR, interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons work together to replace the aortic valve with catheters through a small puncture in the skin, most frequently in the groin. This technique allows a new aortic valve to be inserted within the diseased aortic valve without opening the chest as a traditional open heart surgery. This minimally invasive approach allows patients to recover more quickly, reduces the risk of surgical complications, allows patients to go home sooner than traditional surgery and allows the patient to return to a baseline more rapidly.
Transfemoral TAVR Procedure (TF-TAVR)
- Performed through the femoral artery in leg
- Treatment for high-risk with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis
- Minimally invasive method to replace diseased aortic valve
TAVR BENEFITS
Aortic valve replacement is the most effective treatment to alleviate symptoms and improve survival in patients with severe/critical aortic stenosis. The incidence of aortic stenosis multiplies with age and as the life span of our population increases and as patients age, a large number will require aortic valve replacement. Since outcomes with medical management are uniformly poor, TAVR is a less invasive alternative for patients with aortic stenosis who need aortic valve replacement. Additional benefits include shorter recovery time, minimally invasive, significantly less pain than with open heart surgery and it’s a life-saving option for patients with severe aortic stenosis.
TMVR (MitraClip) Expectations Flyer
Animation: Transfemoral Approach
TAVR Patient Testimonial – John White
TAVR Patient Testimonial – Margaret Lack
TAVR Patient Testimonial – Orville Warren
TAVR Patient Testimonial – Zena McNeil
TAVR Patient Testimonial – Otis Winter
TAVR Patient Testimonial – John Baker
Celebrating 500 TAVR & 100 MitraClip Patients
Celebrating 1,000 TAVR Patients
TRANSCATHETER PARAVALVULAR LEAK CLOSURE
Repeating surgery to repair a leaking previously replaced heart valve is a high risk procedure for some patients. We offer a minimally invasive technique for patients who need to repair a previously replaced heart valve. During the procedure, a small incision is made and a catheter (thin, flexible tube) is inserted to deliver and deploy a plug at the site of the leak. Once in place, the catheter is removed and the incision is stitched up.
VIDEOS
Animation: Transfemoral Approach
TAVR Patient Testimonial – John White
TAVR Patient Testimonial – Margaret Lack
TAVR Patient Testimonial – Orville Warren
TAVR Patient Testimonial – Zena McNeil
TAVR Patient Testimonial – Otis Winter
TAVR Patient Testimonial – John Baker
MitraClip Patient Testimonial – Clifford Stout
Contact Us
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 918-592-0999.
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