When heart valves aren't pumping blood efficiently, they may need to be repaired or replaced through surgery.

Duke's surgical program is known for use of minimally invasive (mini-incision) approaches to valve repair and replacement.

Valve Repair

If the valve tissue is of sufficient quality, surgeons can repair the valve. When possible, this is preferred over full valve replacement.

At Duke, physicians use several different techniques to repair heart valves, depending on the patient's specific valve disorder. Some heart valve operations repair valve flaps that don't close properly, while others fix the fibrous tissue at the base of the heart valve.

Valve Replacement

Replacement is a second option for patients with valve tissue that is too severely damaged for repair.

Duke offers two valve replacement options: mechanical valves and tissue valves.

Mechanical valves last longer than tissue valves and are generally recommended for younger patients. They require patients to take Coumadin (warfarin), a special blood thinner that requires monitoring of its level in the blood.

Be sure to ask your doctor whether it will be safe for you to use Coumadin.

Tissue valves don't require patients to use Coumadin, but they might be more subject to wear and tear.

Tissue valve durability has improved in recent years, but they don't generally last as long as mechanical valves and may eventually need to be replaced again.

At Duke, patients can have access to the latest types of valve replacements if they choose to participate in clinical trials. Find a clinical trial at Duke.

Minimally Invasive Techniques

Duke offers minimally invasive approaches to heart valve surgery -- an option not available at all hospitals. Minimally invasive procedures cut down on blood loss, trauma, and length of hospital stay.

In minimally invasive port-access valve surgery, surgeons access the valve through a small incision beneath the breast, rather than a large incision through the breastbone. Duke performs a high number of these procedures.

Robotic valve surgeries are offered for selected patients.

Video-assisted minimally invasive approaches can also be applied to patients with pericardial disease or certain cardiac arrhythmias.

During surgery, Duke physicians use state-of-the-art ultrasound to assess heart and valve function. This information allows them to make precise adjustments during the surgery to help ensure its success.

Surgical treatment for cardiac arrhythmias (Maze procedures) are also available.

Physicians

Physicians offering this service include:

• D'Amico, Thomas A.
• Davis, R. Duane
• Glower, Donald D.
• Harpole, David H. Jr.
• Hughes, G. Chad
• Jaggers, James
• Lin, Shu S.
• Lodge, Andrew J.
• Lowe, James E.
• Milano, Carmelo A.
• Smith, Peter K.

Locations

This service is available at:

• Duke Cardiothoracic Surgery
  Duke Clinic 2B, 200 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710