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The Heart Valve Center at Tufts Medical Center specializes in the multidisciplinary care of patients with various valve disorders.
Staff members evaluate, treat and manage patients with a broad spectrum of valve disease, with special emphasis on patients who face clinical decision-making challenges. Such challenges include advanced disease states, co-morbidities or co-existing medical conditions, and limited or multiple treatment options.
Examples include:
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Asymptomatic severe valve disease
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Valve disease with ventricular dysfunction
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Mixed or complex valve lesions
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Valve disease with severe pulmonary hypertension
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Valve disease secondary to other cardiac dysfunction
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Valve disease in pregnancy
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Suitability for catheter-based treatment without surgery
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Valve repair versus replacement
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Single or double valve surgery
The Heart Valve Center employs a multidisciplinary team that includes cardiologists with special expertise in valve disease, interventional cardiologists experienced in catheter-based treatment of valve disease, heart surgeons experienced in all forms of cardiac surgery including minimally invasive valve repair and valve replacement, and physicians experienced in the genetic aspects of valve disorders.
Diagnostic options available at the Heart Valve Center include echocardiogram where appropriate, as well as transesophageal echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, computed tomography or cardiac catheterization. Review of test results, therapeutic strategies and all decision-making takes place in conjunction with the referring and/or primary care physician.
Valve disorders form a broad spectrum of disease. Patient and family education regarding individuals’ specific valve problems is a major priority of the Heart Valve Center. All relevant facets of the valve disease, the type, severity, diagnostic tests needed and available treatment options are discussed in a straightforward manner with the patient.
Tufts Medical Center has an extensive track record of research on the diagnostic and management aspects of valve diseases. Pioneering work on developmental aspects of three-dimensional (3-D) imaging and transesophageal echocardiography are among our major contributions. Ongoing research projects include the application of three-dimensional echocardiography in the diagnosis and therapeutic guidance of valve disorders, the role of exercise in the evaluation of patients with valve disease, development of novel approaches for treatment of valve disease, and study of the root causes of common heart valve problems that have an underlying genetic component.
For more information or to schedule an appointment at the Heart Valve Center at Tufts Medical Center, please call 617-636-6151.
Heart Valve Center Expert:
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