Structural heart disease is a relatively new subspecialty in cardiovascular disease care. Structural heart disease refers to abnormalities of the "larger structures" of the heart, including the heart walls, valves and muscles. These abnormalities can be present at birth (congenital) or can develop later in life.
These conditions are evaluated, discussed and treated using a multidisciplinary team of cardiac specialists, including cardiothoracic surgeons, interventional cardiologists and advanced cardiac imaging specialists. The evaluation process usually includes multimodality cardiac imaging technologies such as echocardiography (ultrasound), computed tomography (CT scan), conventional angiography (X-ray) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Many structural heart diseases were traditionally treated with open heart surgery. Today, technology has allowed for less invasive strategies to treat many of these conditions using catheter-based devices delivered via a peripheral vein or artery, usually via "groin" access.
These disease states may be referred to as:
Our Lady of the Lake Heart and Vascular Institute's Structural Heart Program is one of the largest of its kind in the region. Performing more than 200 transcatheter aortic valve replacements and more than 50 transcatheter mitral valve repairs every year, our structural heart program is your best choice for minimally invasive heart and valve care.
At St. Francis Medical Center, heart care is backed by some of the leading cardiovascular accreditations in the Northeast Louisiana region. For more information on our structural heart program, contact Elizabeth J. Riddle, RN, Structural Heart Coordinator, at elizabeth.riddle@fmolhs.org, or Jacyln Green, Structural Heart Nurse Practitioner, at jaclyn.green@fmolhs.org.
Across our system, our cardiovascular centers are renowned for top-of-the-line care for every type of heart condition.
Our specialty at Our Lady of the Lake Heart and Vascular Institute and St. Francis Medical Center is minimally invasive heart valve replacement and repair, septal defects closures and stroke risk reduction for atrial fibrillation.
TAVR is a less invasive option to previously required open heart surgery. It has revolutionized treatment for patients living with aortic stenosis. During the procedure, your doctor will use a catheter through a small incision to implant a new valve within your diseased valve. Benefits to this transcatheter approach may include better clinical outcomes, less scarring, a much shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, less pain and anxiety, and improved quality of life and relief of symptoms. Our Lady of the Lake can customize heart valves to fit your condition.
TAVR treatment options are available across all risk profiles including patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis.
MitraClip is a simple procedure used to fix what is often referred to as a leaky valve. It is indicated for people with degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR>3+) that is symptomatic and who are not candidates for mitral valve surgery. During the procedure, the doctor accesses the mitral valve through a think tube called a catheter. MitraClip does not require opening of the chest or temporarily stopping the heart like traditional surgery. Because of the minimally invasive approach and real-time imaging, this type of procedure only takes 1 to 3 hours and patients typically go home in 1 to 3 days.
The LAAO is a minimally invasive procedure, which is an alternative to blood thinners for many people. It can mean eliminating a lifetime of concern over issues like bleeding or falling. It is indicated for patients with atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem, also called non-valvular Afib. Patients may not be candidates for chronic anticoagulation for several reasons including noncompliance, occupational restrictions, long-term bleeding or a strong preference not to take blood thinners. After placement of the device, which is done in the cath lab, patients typically go home after an overnight stay. Anticoagulation medications can be permanently stopped 45 days after this life-changing event.
Find out more about the cardiovascular tests and other ways we can accurately diagnose heart conditions.
Find out more about the other cardiovascular treatments and services we provide to help treat your heart condition.