Songwriter David Schmelhaus found life-saving care and spiritual strength during his battle with acute leukemia at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown in Nashville, Tenn.
Aortic valve care
Cardiologists at Ascension Saint Thomas Heart in Middle Tennessee provide advanced care for leaky heart valves and other aortic valve disorders.
Aortic valve care in Nashville
Cardiologists at Ascension Saint Thomas Heart in Middle Tennessee provide advanced care for leaky heart valves and other aortic valve disorders.
Aortic valve care in Nashville
When you choose Ascension Saint Thomas Heart, you get an entire team dedicated to your heart care. Your heart doctor works with you on a care plan and connects the dots for your care when you need a specialist. If you have leaky heart valves or other aortic conditions, your heart care team is ready to answer your questions and make sure you have the information to make the right choices for your care.
Understanding aortic valve disorders
Aortic valve disorders occur when the valve that controls blood flow from your heart to your body doesn’t open or close properly. This can make it harder for your heart to pump blood. Some aortic diseases begin at birth. Aortic valve disorders involve different parts of the heart and blood vessels, including the aortic valve and the aorta.
Aortic valve disorders we treat:
- Aortic regurgitation
- Aortic stenosis
Aortic artery diseases we treat:
- Aortic aneurysm
- Aortic dissection
- Atherosclerosis of the aorta
Aortic congenital heart diseases we treat:
- Bicuspid aortic valve disease
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Familial thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissections
- Loeys-Dietz syndrome
- Marfan syndrome
At Ascension Saint Thomas Heart, our heart specialists provide personalized care to diagnose and treat aortic valve disease, including leaky heart valves. We also care for aortic diseases such as aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection and atherosclerosis of the aorta.
Aortic valve disorder symptoms
Symptoms of aortic valve disorders may include:
- Chest pain
- Cold sweats
- Light-headedness
- Nausea
- Pain in the arms or shoulder
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
Symptoms of a leaky aortic heart valve may also include:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Irregular heartbeat
- Rapid weight gain
How we treat aortic valve disorders
Treatment for aortic valve disorders may include medication, therapy or surgery. Ascension Saint Thomas Heart is a national leader in minimally invasive approaches to treat many heart valve conditions. If you have aortic valve disease, your doctor may recommend replacing your aortic valve.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a procedure that replaces a diseased aortic valve with a man-made valve. The TAVR procedure may be recommended as an alternative to open heart surgery. The old heart valve is not removed but acts like an anchor for the new heart valve. This procedure is done through small cuts (incisions) using a long, thin tube (catheter), X-rays, and ultrasound.
How to get care
This service requires a referral.
Get a second opinion
When you’re facing a new diagnosis or are deciding on a surgical or therapeutic treatment plan, there’s a lot to think about. If you’re looking for a second opinion for advanced heart care, our cardiologists can connect you with specialists for minimally invasive surgery, including TAVR, MitraClip™, WATCHMAN™ and ablation.
Before your appointment, check with your insurance company to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your medical records on your behalf so they can be shared with your care team before your appointment.
FOR PROVIDERS
Providers: Refer your patients to Ascension Saint Thomas Heart
Your patients can expect compassionate, personalized care from the moment our specialists connect with them. Our heart specialists start by listening to understand your patient’s needs and develop an individualized care plan.
To refer a patient to the Heart Aortic Center, call 615-22-AORTA or 855-284-2255.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.
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