Heart and valve care in Birmingham | Ascension
Male doctor talking to older white male patient about structural heart valve care

Heart and valve care in Birmingham

Cardiologists and heart surgeons at Ascension St. Vincent's in Birmingham, Alabama, deliver advanced heart and valve care.
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When you need advanced care for heart and valve disease, a team of experienced specialists at Ascension St. Vincent’s delivers advanced diagnostics and valve disease imaging, personalized therapeutic and surgical treatment and rehabilitation support:

  • Leading technologies and advanced treatment options
  • Minimally invasive catheter-based surgery, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
  • Follow-up care and rehab to get you back to your life

At Ascension St. Vincent’s, we have multidisciplinary care teams dedicated to caring for your heart. Your care team brings together the expertise of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, cardiac interventionists, and cardiac imaging specialists to diagnose and treat complex heart valve disease. Our heart and vascular specialists and surgeons are part of a national team and trained in the latest heart care testing, treatment and procedures.

Your doctor starts by listening to you, to better understand you and your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend advanced diagnostic testing. Then, your doctor works with you to create a personalized care plan that may include ongoing care and medication management, therapeutic treatment, heart surgery, and cardiac rehabilitation.

Minimally invasive heart valve replacement

If you have aortic valve disease, your doctor may recommend replacing your aortic valve. For those considered high risk for open-heart surgery due to age, previous heart surgery, stroke or other chronic conditions, TAVR may be an option. This procedure, also called transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), is a minimally invasive surgery.

TAVR can help treat aortic valve stenosis, one of the most common heart valve problems. Aortic valve stenosis is the narrowing of the aortic heart valve, which prevents the valve from opening and closing properly. Symptoms of aortic stenosis include chest pain, fatigue, rapid heartbeat and feeling faint, tightness, and shortness of breath with activity.

During the TAVR procedure, your heart valve is replaced, so oxygen-rich blood can flow in the right direction — through your heart and body. Ask your doctor about a TAVR evaluation to see if valve replacement is right for you.

Specialists in structural heart and valve surgery

Heart and valve problems can lead to heart attack or progressive heart failure, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about early treatment options when you receive your diagnosis. For some heart valve conditions, surgery may be recommended. And whenever possible, minimally invasive techniques will be used. Minimally invasive procedures may help shorten your recovery time and lower your risk of complications.

  • Aortic and mitral valvuloplasty (balloon valvuloplasty)
  • Left atrial appendage closure
  • Mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER)
  • Paravalvular periprosthetic leak repair
  • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
  • Transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation

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Get a second opinion from a heart valve specialist

Get the confidence and peace of mind that your doctor and cardiovascular care plan are right for you. It's easy to get a second opinion at Ascension St. Vincent’s. We can review your medical records and healthcare history to answer your questions and discuss options. Talk with one of our doctors about a personalized heart care plan.

When you are facing a new diagnosis or are deciding on a surgical or therapeutic treatment plan, there’s a lot to think about. If you are looking for a second opinion for advanced heart care, our cardiologists can also connect you with the right specialists for minimally invasive surgery, including TAVR. Our heart and vascular specialists can provide a second opinion, based on our experience and as part of a national care team.

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 that they can be shared with your care team before your arrival.

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Heart care that focuses on the whole you

Your specialists and care team collaborate, working together for you and with you. Every appointment with your doctor starts with a conversation about any new symptoms, concerns or questions. At Ascension St. Vincent’s, your care team supports you before, during and after your heart valve procedure to help you return to the regular daily activities you love. Your doctor works with you to monitor your heart health over time, including connecting you with cardiac rehab and helping manage your medications to make sure they are working well for you.

Frequently asked questions about heart and valve care

  • What is the most common type of heart disease?

    Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease in the United States. When plaque builds up within your artery walls, it can create a partial or total blockage. This condition decreases blood flow and can cause heart attack or another heart problem. Cardiologists at Ascension sites of care deliver advanced care for all types of heart conditions, including structural heart disorders that affect a heart valve, inflammation of the heart muscle and congenital heart conditions that affect the structures of the heart.

  • What is the difference between a cardiologist and interventional cardiologist?

    Cardiologists primarily diagnose and treat heart conditions with medications, but they may perform procedures such as cardiac catheterization or placing stents. An interventional cardiologist has the expertise to deliver catheter-based treatments for heart disease. To reach the heart, your doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube through an artery in the groin, arm or neck. This tube allows your doctor to check for partial or total blockages in the artery. During an angiogram catheterization, your doctor can also measure blood pressure within the heart and evaluate the blood flow through your heart’s chambers.

    Interventional cardiologists specialize in minimally invasive heart valve (TAVR and MitraClip™) replacement or valve repair.

    Minimally invasive surgery may be an option for your care with a goal of a shorter recovery time and lower risk of infection. If you need more advanced care, such as open-heart surgery, we’re with you through surgery, recovery and beyond. Together, your team of doctors deliver advanced heart and vascular care to help improve your heart function.

  • What are symptoms of heart valve disease?

    Heart valve disease can be caused by aging, infection or injury. You can also be diagnosed with congenital heart valve disease, meaning you were born with your condition. Common symptoms of heart valve disease include:

    • Chest pain
    • Fainting
    • Fatigue
    • Irregular heartbeat
    • Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
    • Swelling in the ankles and legs

    Some people with heart valve disease experience no symptoms. If you are an older adult or have had other health conditions such as rheumatic fever, heart attack and arrhythmia, talk to your doctor about your risk for heart valve disease.

  • What are the signs of heart valve problems?

    Healthy heart valves can fully open and close with your heartbeat to allow blood to flow properly, but a diseased valve can not. Heart valve disease can develop over a short or long period of time. Some signs of a heart valve problem can include:

    • Chest pain
    • Dizziness or fainting
    • Fatigue
    • Fever
    • Irregular heartbeat
    • Rapid weight gain
    • Shortness of breath
  • Can heart valve disease be treated?

    Advanced care for your heart valve condition may include therapeutic or surgical options. Heart surgeons at Ascension sites of care provide diagnostic tests and minimally invasive procedures such as TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement). Your care plan may also include cardiac rehabilitation and follow-up care to get you back to your home, family and the activities you love. Talk to your doctor about what treatment options are right for you.

  • How do I find a heart valve specialist near me?

    Heart and valve problems can lead to heart attack or progressive heart failure, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about early treatment options. For some heart valve conditions, surgery may be recommended. Whenever possible, our national care team of heart specialists perform cardiac surgeries using minimally invasive techniques, which may help shorten your recovery time and lower your risk of complications. Find a heart specialist near you.