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Help in a Heartbeat at New Valve Clinic  Dr. Stephen Little Cardiologist Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center Some valve problems are harmless, but serious cases of valve disease can lead to heart failure, which accounts for approximately 300,000 deaths each year.* Valve Disease and Women "Heart disease in general is often considered a male problem, but valve problems do not discriminate by sex," says Stephen Little, M.D., cardiologist at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center. Two main types of valve problems are:
Women are at higher risk than men for mitral valve stenosis (MVS), which can lead to heart failure or stroke. The mitral valve regulates blood flow between the left atrium and left ventricle. "MVS is associated with having had rheumatic fever in childhood," Little says. "Rheumatic fever is rare today, but if you had it 20 or 40 years ago, it's a risk factor for MVS."Women are also more likely to have mitral valve prolapse (MVP), the most common valve abnormality. MVP involves the regurgitation of blood into the left atrium when the left ventricle is contracted. "Some people with MVP experience palpitations – occasional fluttery feelings," Little says. "For many people, the mild form of MVP is harmless, but some patients develop significant valve regurgitation and require surgery to repair the mitral valve." Little says another serious problem is aortic stenosis. "When the aortic valve doesn't work properly, it may lead to decreased blood flow, causing chest pain and shortness of breath," he says. "Untreated, serious cases may lead to heart failure." Although the risk of developing valve disease increases with age, women of childbearing age deserve special attention because the heart must pump more blood during pregnancy. "Some valve problems, such as severe aortic stenosis, should be treated before becoming pregnant so that the heart can handle the job," Little says. Innovative Treatment Options Heart valve diseases can be complicated, but finding valve disease experts has become easier with the opening of the Valve Clinic at Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center. The new valve clinic offers the most powerful imaging technology available – such as 3D Doppler echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging – to diagnose the most complex cases. "Standard treatment for serious valve disease used to be open surgery to replace damaged valves," Little says. "Today, we have innovative techniques to repair valves through minimally invasive robotic surgery and procedures in our cath lab." Coordinated Care One call to the valve clinic sets the wheels in motion for smooth and efficient care. A coordinator ensures all of your questions are answered, gathers your past test results from other providers and schedules the appropriate valve clinic staff for your visit. Valve clinic patients also benefit from a valve board – imaging experts, cardiologists, surgeons and researchers – that meets regularly to review cases. "You don't just get one doctor's opinion," Little says. "The valve board collaborates to find the best treatments that exist for each patient's specific condition. "It's very satisfying to provide this level of care," Little adds. "When someone comes to us feeling terrible, we have access to the tools we need to find out why and to help her feel better." * Source: MedlinePlus: Heart Failure.
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