Structural Heart and Valvular Disease Program

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Innovative, less invasive surgical techniques for heart disease

At Lankenau Heart Institute just minutes away from Philadelphia, we treat structural heart and valvular disease that other centers have deemed untreatable. Our team of cardiologists, imaging specialists, interventionists and surgeons is among the most experienced in the region. We use a team-based approach and are renowned for developing and performing advanced, minimally invasive surgical techniques whenever possible.

We were among the first in the nation to have access to MitraClip, a device that controls blood from flowing backwards into your heart (mitral valve regurgitation) without the use of open-heart surgery. On our team are the most experienced MitraClip implanters in the state of Pennsylvania.

For our patients with aortic stenosis, we have led the way in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), another groundbreaking and minimally invasive procedure that allows us to replace the aortic valve by way of a catheter insertion in the groin (transfemoral), a small chest incision (transapical) or the ascending aorta (transaortic).

Our structural and valvular heart team offers a range of surgical and transcatheter treatments for individuals with severe or symptomatic heart valve disease, including:

We also treat patients who need re-operation for valve disease as well as those who have valve disease related to prior chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

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Why choose Lankenau Heart Institute for heart valve disease care

People come to Lankenau for world-class cardiac care that includes:

  • Expertise with novel treatments. As leading experts in transcatheter mitral valve repair procedures we’re able to provide a minimally invasive option to patients with mitral valve regurgitation. The benefits to our patients include less recovery time, less risk of infection, and an almost immediate improvement in symptoms and quality of life.
  • More than 1000 TAVR procedures have been performed since 2012. As one of the first medical centers in Pennsylvania to perform this advanced, minimally invasive surgical technique, we have significant experience with this procedure and continue to exceed our program benchmarks for TAVR excellence.
  • Minimally invasive valve surgeries for greater precision, less recovery time. For mitral valve repair on select patients we use an endoscopic approach, which usually requires a two-inch incision and two port sites of less than a quarter of an inch. This approach results in less blood loss, less chance of infection, shorter hospital stays, minimal scarring and quicker return to everyday activities. In 2015, 87 percent of mitral valve procedures were repairs rather than replacements.

Cardiovascular clinical trials at Main Line Health

Main Line Health uses clinical trials to help prevent, diagnose and treat the full range of heart and aortic conditions. Learn more about the cardiovascular clinical trials currently being offered by our renowned cardiologists and heart and aortic surgeons.

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Heart and Vascular Care

The cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons at Main Line Health work together to improve the detection and prevention of heart disease with the latest treatment options.

Vascular Surgery

Our surgeons perform hundreds of procedures to open blocked arteries and restore healthy blood flow with traditional open surgery as well as minimally invasive and endovascular interventions.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Of patients who have completed cardiac rehabilitation program at a Main Line Health facility, 95 percent show improvement in functional ability and 100 percent of patients report overall improvement in their quality of life.

Consultative Cardiology Program

Our multidisciplinary team of cardiac specialists, including physicians, nurses and dietitians, work together to secure a prompt diagnosis, identify appropriate treatment options, and facilitate long-term, follow-up care.

Women's Heart Disease

Women's Heart Initiative is a comprehensive health care program specifically dedicated to education and awareness about women's heart care.

Cardiovascular Imaging Program

Cardiovascular imaging uses the most advanced technology available to capture images of the heart in order to better diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease.