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Yale New Haven Health Heart and Vascular Center’s Structural Heart and Valve Disease Program offers diagnosis, management and treatment of disease processes affecting the heart’s valves and other non-coronary structures of the heart.
The most common of valvular heart diseases involves the aortic valve or mitral valve. When a valve does not open properly, narrowing (stenosis) can occur and the heart cannot efficiently pump blood to vital organs due to increased workload. Alternatively, leaking (regurgitation) of the valve can increase pressures in the different chambers of the heart and cause symptoms. Typical symptoms of heart valve conditions can include shortness of breath (particularly with activity), chest discomfort, passing out (syncope), or swelling in the ankles (edema). Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a procedure for patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. The first TAVR in Connecticut was performed at Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) Heart and Vascular Center in 2011.
In 2024, Yale New Haven Health became the first healthcare system in Connecticut to receive Transcatheter Valve Center certification designations for Yale New Haven and Bridgeport hospitals from the American College of Cardiology. In 2021, YNHH became the first hospital in the state to receive such certification.
Our multidisciplinary team includes interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, electrophysiologists and/or pediatric cardiologists (as appropriate), invasive imaging specialists, nurses, advanced practice providers and research personnel. Procedures are catheter-based and minimally invasive surgery vs. open-heart surgery. Potential benefits may include improved outcomes, quicker recovery and fewer complications.
Yale New Haven Health participates in many clinical research studies, which include structural heart studies and research that has enabled TAVR to be available to all patients regardless of their surgical risk. If you are interested in learning more, please discuss with your doctor.
Our expertise in heart valve procedures is reflected through our Transcatheter Valve Certification by the American College of Cardiology at both Yale New Haven and Bridgeport hospitals. Yale New Haven Health Heart and Vascular Center is the first and only healthcare system in Connecticut to be certified for transcatheter valve replacement procedures. Certification is based on established national clinical measures to support clinical decisions and links process improvement to patient outcomes.
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Yale New Haven Health is proud to be affiliated with the prestigious Yale University and its highly ranked Yale School of Medicine.
