Services Cardiology Structural Cardiology

Structural Heart Program

Our comprehensive structural heart program offers minimally invasive treatment for valve disease and structural and congenital heart disorders.

Structural Heart Program Overview

Our structural heart program at Hattiesburg Clinic offers specialized, often minimally invasive treatment options for patients with valvular disease, congenital heart disease and other types of structural disorders. Structural heart diseases can develop at any age, but the appropriate treatment option may vary based on the patient’s age and overall health. For those with advanced valve disease, like aortic stenosis or mitral valve prolapse, our structural heart program may offer options to those who would benefit from or prefer a less invasive approach to open heart surgery.

Structural Heart Procedures
Aortic Stenosis Treatment
Atrial Fibrillation (aFib) Treatment
Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
Mitral Valve Disease
Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)
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Structural Heart Procedures

Through our structural heart program, we offer advanced treatment options for the following heart conditions:

Aortic stenosis
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial septal defect (ASD)
Mitral valve disease
Patent foramen ovale (PFO)

Aortic Stenosis Treatment

Aortic stenosis is the hardening and narrowing of the aortic valve, one of the heart’s major valves. If left untreated, it can cause serious complications over time. Luckily, there are a number of treatments available, including minimally invasive approaches or surgery.

Balloon Valvuloplasty

During balloon valvuloplasty, a catheter is inserted through the patient’s artery in either the groin or the arm and thread to the heart. When the catheter reaches the destination of the narrow valve, a balloon at the end is inflated and opens the valve. During the procedure, the patient typically remains awake but may be given a sedative to relax.

Balloon valvuloplasty is typically most effective in children, teens and young adults. This procedure is less effective in older adults who may require a valve replacement.

TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement)

Traditionally a heart valve could only be replaced through surgery, but advances in care have made it possible to replace the aortic valve through a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure. TAVR can be performed without opening the chest and may be a good option for any patients who would otherwise need to consider open-heart surgery, but especially for those who are of advanced age. Hattiesburg Clinic offers incredible expertise in TAVR, with one of the highest volume programs in the state.

Atrial Fibrillation (aFib) Treatment

Atrial fibrillation is a more severe type of irregular heartbeat that increases a patient’s risk of blood clots, stroke and heart failure.

LAA Closure / WATCHMAN^™

Through Hattiesburg Clinic’s structural heart program, we offer a specialized device called WATCHMAN to help manage aFib. The device is implanted during a minimally invasive catheter procedure that does not require surgery. WATCHMAN can reduce a patient’s risk of stroke and dangerous blood clots while eliminating the need for frequent blood tests and the need to take blood thinners.

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

Atrial septal defect is a defect of the heart in which there is a hole in the wall that divides chambers in the heart. This defect may be identified in the womb, but some individuals may not know of their defect until adulthood. Most patients with ASD have an audible heart murmur that is caused by the extra blood flow.

ASD Closure

In many instances, the hole in the heart can be closed with a plug inserted through the groin back up to the heart during a minimally invasive outpatient procedure.

Mitral Valve Disease

There are four valves in the heart that open and close as the heart beats to help control the flow of blood through the heart and out into the body. The mitral valve is one of the heart’s four valves, and if it functions poorly, this is called mitral valve disease. Mitral valve disease has unpleasant day-to-day symptoms and can lead to aFib, heart failure, stroke or pulmonary hypertension.

TMVR (MitraClip™)

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair (TMVR) may be recommended for patients with mitral valve regurgitation (leaky valve). Our structural cardiologists repair the mitral valve using MitraClip, a small, metal clip that is implanted through a non-invasive catheter procedure. MitraClip offers non-surgical options for patients who may not qualify for valve repair surgery or those who would prefer not to undergo surgery, including patients of advanced age.

Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a common congenital heart condition that is caused when a small opening in the heart does not close after a child is born. Many patients with PFO will have no symptoms, and they will never need treatment. However, treatment may be recommended to those who are experiencing negative symptoms or complications, or those who have a larger hole.

PFO Closure

Here at Hattiesburg Clinic, our structural cardiology team offers a minimally invasive approach to closing a PFO by threading a tiny catheter into an artery or vessel. At the end of the catheter, the cardiologist will use a device to plug the PFO.

Choose Hattiesburg Clinic

Our Hattiesburg Clinic cardiologists offer some of the most advanced techniques in the state, performing a high volume of structural heart procedures every year. Through our structural heart program, we offer patients of all ages options to treat serious heart conditions without the pain, risks and recovery of open-heart surgery.