When you need advanced care for heart and valve disease, we have a team of experienced cardiology specialists at Ascension Borgess in southwest Michigan. Our experienced heart specialists use advanced cardiac imaging and tests to diagnose and treat heart valve disease. We use the latest therapeutic and surgical treatments to repair or replace damaged heart valves. We are a:
- A leader in percutaneous transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TAVR) as the first in southwest Michigan to conduct the minimally invasive alternative to conventional open-heart surgical approaches
- A leader in transcarotid artery revascularization, a minimally invasive treatment option for carotid artery disease
Ascension Borgess Hospital has been recognized by Healthgrades in the top 5 percent and as one of America's 100 Best Cardiac Care Hospitals. They are listed #1 in Cardiac Care in Michigan (2024).
Specialty care for structural heart and valve disease
At Ascension Borgess, 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.
FIND A HEART VALVE SPECIALIST
Your doctor starts by listening to you, to better understand you and your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend advanced diagnostic testing. Your doctor works with you to create a personalized care plan, such as medication management, minimally invasive procedure to repair a valve or a structural part of the heart, or heart valve replacement. Then, Ascension Borgess Hospital cardiac rehabilitation care teams are here to help you throughout your recovery.
Minimally invasive heart valve replacement
If you have aortic valve disease, your doctor may recommend replacing your aortic valve. For those considered at risk for open-heart surgery due to age, previous heart surgery, stroke or other chronic conditions, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may be an option. This procedure, also called transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), is a minimally invasive surgery. 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 about TAVR as an option to treat aortic valve stenosis
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
- Chest tightness
- Fatigue
- Feeling faint
- Rapid heartbeat
- Shortness of breath with activity
Ask your doctor about a TAVR evaluation to see if valve replacement is right for you.
Ascension Borgess Structural Heart Clinic procedures
Heart and valve problems can lead to heart attack or progressive heart failure. 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. Whenever possible, minimally invasive techniques will be used. Minimally invasive procedures may help shorten your recovery time and lower your risk of complications. Procedures include:
- Left atrial appendage occlusion WATCHMAN™ and FLX devices
- MitraClip™ for mitral valve repair
- Patent foramen ovale (PFO) and atrial septal defect (ASD) closure
- Pulmonary and tricuspid valve care
- Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
- Transcatheter mitral valve repair
- Endovascular and thoracic repairs of aortic aneurysms (EVAR, TEVAR)
Repair leaky heart valves with MitraClip™
When your mitral valve is damaged, it can be difficult for blood to flow from one chamber to the other. If the mitral valve does not close completely, blood can leak backward inside your heart. This condition is called mitral regurgitation. With the MitraClip™ procedure, your doctor inserts a thin tube into your leg and moves the tube up through your heart. Then, a small clip is attached to your mitral valve to help it close. MitraClip™ helps to restore normal blood flow inside and outside of your heart.
WATCHMAN™ device to help treat AFib
If you have AFib, you may be at risk of developing blood clots. Those clots can travel through your arteries to your brain and cause a stroke. If your AFib is not caused by valve damage or disease, our cardiologists and electrophysiologists may recommend the WATCHMAN™ device to help close off your left atrial appendage (LAA). When implanted, the quarter-sized device acts as a barrier to prevent blood clots from leaving your LAA and entering your bloodstream.
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 with Ascension Borgess. 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, MitraClip™, WATCHMAN™, and cardiac ablation. 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.
GET A SECOND OPINION
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. Your care team with Ascension Borgess 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 rehabilitation and helping manage your medications to make sure they are working well for you.
