The moment you hear there’s something wrong with your heart, life can change in an instant.
“Heart valve disease” — three words no one wants to hear their healthcare provider say, especially if you had no idea anything was wrong. And finding out there’s a problem with your mitral or tricuspid valve might leave you confused, as well as worried. What are these valves anyway? Why aren’t they working right? And what happens now?
Cleveland Clinic’s heart specialists and surgeons are world-renowned for their expertise, excellent outcomes and outstanding, compassionate patient care. They understand that you have a million questions, and they’re ready with answers. You can feel safe placing your confidence in us.
Our highly skilled cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons are leaders in heart care. Our surgeons do thousands of heart valve procedures each year, often on patients with complex needs. That number is growing quickly as more people travel to Cleveland Clinic from across the country and around the world for heart care.
Our outcomes are among the best in the world for all types of valve surgery, including repeat operations. Our heart team has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the highest ratings for adult cardiac surgery from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS).
At Cleveland Clinic, your excellent care is always our first priority. And it shows. Our team consistently gets top marks on satisfaction surveys, and our patients regularly recommend Cleveland Clinic for heart care.
At Cleveland Clinic, we’re at the forefront of research and innovation. We use the latest imaging tests and specialize in minimally invasive techniques, including transcatheter-based and robotically assisted procedures. We’ve been instrumental in creating new treatment devices, surgical techniques and designs for replacement valves. Clinical trials are available to test new medications, treatments and therapies for those who qualify.
Cleveland Clinic is nationally ranked for its heart care and recognized as a world leader in cardiovascular care.
Both mitral and tricuspid valve disease can be congenital (something you’re born with) or acquired (developing later in life) as a result of complications from a previous heart condition, infection (endocarditis), rheumatic fever or simply getting older.
We treat people with all forms of mitral and tricuspid valve disease, including:
The two most common types of mitral and tricuspid valve disease are stenosis (when the opening to your valve gets narrow or stiff) or regurgitation (when your valve doesn’t close completely and leaks). Mitral valve prolapse happens when the tissues of your mitral valve become abnormal and stretchy. When your heart beats, part of the valve flops back into the left atrium. Mitral valve prolapse is the most common cause of a leaky mitral valve.
The symptoms of mitral or tricuspid valve disease can be subtle. You might be very tired, have swollen ankles or feel like your heart is skipping a beat. If the disease is further along, you might have chest pain, shortness of breath or feel dizzy. You can also have heart valve disease for a long time and not feel any symptoms at all.
At your appointment, your healthcare provider will ask about your personal and family medical history, what symptoms you’re having and how severe they are. Your provider may also listen to your heart through a stethoscope. If they hear a murmur (abnormal whooshing sounds), that might mean there’s a potential blood flow problem in one of your heart’s valves. Not all murmurs are cause for concern, but it’s important to find out what’s causing the murmur and to keep a close eye on it.
If you have a heart murmur and/or experience any of the symptoms mentioned, your provider may order diagnostic imaging tests to confirm a diagnosis. These tests may include:
Plan to stay one to two days in the Cleveland area during the diagnosis process. You may need to stay longer if your provider schedules a treatment at the same time.
When you need mitral and tricuspid valve care, you want the best. Your team will include top cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and more. They’ll work together to manage your care and tailor treatments just for you.
If needed, your heart team will work with Cleveland Clinic providers in other specialties to provide comprehensive, coordinated care for complex conditions.
Schedule an appointment with one of our specialists in Ohio, Florida or London.
Your treatment will depend on the type of valve disease you have, the severity of it, your age, and your personal and family medical history. It will also depend on your goals — what you want to achieve with treatment. If you don’t have any symptoms, or your symptoms are mild, your provider may just keep an eye on your condition with regular check-ups and testing.
They may prescribe medications, such as diuretics (water pills), beta-blockers and anticoagulants (blood thinners) or other medications to rest the heart to relieve mild symptoms, help your heart pump better and lessen the chance of more valve damage.
Video content: This video is available to watch online.
View video online (https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/p/2207941/sp/220794100/playManifest/entryId/1_1pyvi2ee/flavorId/1_5f3sgelj/format/url/protocol/https/a.mp4)
A. Marc Gillinov, MD, explains mitral valve repair and why Cleveland Clinic excels at it.
Damaged valves may need to be repaired or replaced. Whenever possible, our providers use minimally invasive or robotically assisted procedures or catheter-based procedures that don’t require surgery at all. Options include:
Sometimes, mitral valve surgery or tricuspid valve surgery is needed. Your provider will let you know if this traditional approach is the best option. They’ll also tell you whether your valve can be repaired without using artificial parts or whether replacing it with a biological valve (from a cow or pig) or a mechanical valve (made from carbon and metal) is right for you.
Robotically assisted mitral valve repair is another type of open-heart surgery. During this procedure, you’ll be connected to a cardiopulmonary bypass machine that will do the work of your heart and lungs during the surgery.
We know that traveling for any kind of healthcare can be stressful and intimidating. If you’re coming to us from another city, state or even another country, we’re here to help make things as easy and convenient as possible. From knowing where to stay and where to eat, to how to get to and from the airport, shop or just find your way around any of our hospitals, we’re here for you.
If you’re an international patient, our experienced and compassionate Global Patient Services (GPS) team will help you navigate Cleveland Clinic. They’ll connect you with the healthcare providers you need, help make appointments, provide language translation services and coordinate follow-up care when you return home.
If you have questions about mitral or tricuspid valve surgery, our specialists have answers. Watch our team go over what to expect from valve repair or replacement surgery and recovery.
When your heart is having problems, it’s very important to see a specialist right away. Small issues can lead to much bigger ones if a damaged heart valve is left untreated. It’s never too early to find out what’s going on. At Cleveland Clinic, you’ll get expert, compassionate care from some of the top experts in the field. You can feel confident knowing you’re in capable hands — from diagnosis and treatment to ongoing lifelong care.
Getting an appointment with Cleveland Clinic heart valve experts is easy. We’re here to help you get the care you need.
Manage your Cleveland Clinic account. Find billing information and financial assistance, plus FAQs.
Securely access your personal health information at any time, day or night.
Health LibraryFind answers to your health questions from experts you can trust. It's like having a friend who's a doctor.