[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/02\/aortic-mitral-valve-disease-treatment\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/02\/aortic-mitral-valve-disease-treatment\/","headline":"Aortic and Mitral Valve Disease Treatment Options","name":"Aortic and Mitral Valve Disease Treatment Options","description":"Learn how your heart valves work and about treatment options for many types of heart valve diseases, including aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation.","datePublished":"2015-02-24","dateModified":"2018-08-29","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","name":"Heart and Vascular Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/heart-and-vascular-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/circulatory-system.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/circulatory-system.png","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/02\/aortic-mitral-valve-disease-treatment\/","about":["Heart and Vascular Health"],"wordCount":592,"keywords":["aortic valve stenosis","chest pain","heart failure","heart surgery","heart valve diseases","mitral valve regurgitation","mitral valve stenosis","robotic surgery","treatment for aortic and mitral valve diseases"],"articleBody":"If you view your body as a machine, each of its parts work to keep the whole running efficiently. Your heart valves do an important job, opening and closing to keep blood flowing in the right direction. But if a valve isn’t working properly, it can cause stress on the body and the heart itself.The heart is a muscle \u2013 and a hard working muscle, at that. If a valve does not close properly or if it does not open wide enough to let blood easily pass through, a faulty valve can force your heart to work harder and over-stress your heart. Fortunately, there are options for treatment.How Do Heart Valves Work?Your heart has four chambers, or sections, that beat in time to keep blood flowing throughout your body. Each chamber has a valve with flaps that open to let blood flow forward, and close to stop blood from flowing backward.The valves in your heart can become narrow, or leak. If this happens, you might have symptoms like:Shortness of breathChest painFatigue, or feeling very tiredCoughing (can be dry or with blood)Swelling of your feet or anklesAnxietyHeart palpitations, or feeling like your heart is pounding or flutteringFaintingHeart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)Types of Valve DiseasesIt’s always best to talk with your doctor if you have any of the symptoms listed above, because it could be a sign of a valve disease like:Aortic valve stenosisMitral valve regurgitationMitral valve stenosisWhat is aortic valve stenosis?Your aorta is your largest artery, and your aortic valve opens and closes to let blood to flow from your heart into your aorta. Then, blood flows from your aorta out into your body.Aortic stenosis happens when your aortic valve doesn’t open wide enough to allow enough blood to flow through it. This makes your heart work harder, which can weaken your heart and lead to heart failure over time.What is mitral valve regurgitation?Your mitral valve sits between the top and bottom chambers on the left side of your heart. It opens and closes to let blood flow from the top chamber to the bottom chamber.Mitral valve regurgitation happens when the valve doesn’t close tightly and blood leaks back into the top chamber.What is mitral valve stenosis?Mitral valve stenosis happens when the mitral valve doesn’t open wide enough to let enough blood flow through it.How Are Valve\u00a0Diseases Treated?Treatment for valve diseases depends on the condition, how serious it is, and what symptoms you’re feeling.Open heart and minimally invasive heart surgeryHeart surgery is a common treatment option, because valves usually need to be repaired in order to work properly. Surgery can be:Open heart, where a surgeon opens your chest to make the repairMinimally invasive, where a surgeon does not open your chest and instead uses a thin, flexible tube (called a catheter) or a robotic device to make the repairRobotic heart surgeryIn some cases, robotic surgery can be used for mitral valve repair. During robotic surgery, a surgeon uses a robotic device that includes a camera and surgical tools to repair the valve. Robotic surgery uses a much smaller incision than open heart surgery, and usually means a faster recovery time for the patient.Visit the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute online, complete our online form, or call 1-855-UPMC-HVI (1-855-876-2484) to learn more about aortic and mitral valve diseases and treatment options."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2015","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"02","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/\/02\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Aortic and Mitral Valve Disease Treatment Options","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/02\/aortic-mitral-valve-disease-treatment\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]