Valve Diseases

The four heart valves regulate blood flow in the right direction. In some cases, valve diseases can be congenital, but acquired diseases, for example due to calcification in old age, inflammation, or circulatory disorders, are much more common.

Valve dysfunction can be caused by either restricted opening motion (valvular stenosis) or insufficient valve closure (valvular insufficiency) or a combination of these. This disrupts proper blood flow, forcing the heart muscle to do more work. If the function of the heart valves is slightly restricted, this is usually not noticeable in everyday life. However, if the valve disease progresses, the heart muscle can no longer maintain sufficient blood flow and heart failure develops. This can lead to shortness of breath during exercise, coughing, dizziness, fainting, increased water retention in the legs or chest pain.

Cardiac arrhythmias can also be a consequence of heart valve disease. Our priority is to repair these valves, whenever possible (cases of valve failure).

The first endoscopic mitral and tricuspid valve repairs as well as the first aortic valve repair procedures using the David and Yacoub methods were performed at our Center.

In cases of valvular diseases where valve replacement is needed, valves of excellent quality and latest technology are used (for example Perimount Magna Ease, Resilia Inspiris).