Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery Options at Saint Joseph Health

Structural heart disease includes problems with the heart’s valves, chambers, walls and vessels. These issues — whether present from birth or acquired over time — can affect the heart’s function and lead to poor quality of life, stroke and even death, according to Armaghan Soomro, MD, interventional cardiologist with Saint Joseph Medical Group – Cardiology. 

“Historically, these conditions have been treated with open surgical methods,” Dr. Soomro said. “However, within the past few decades, several minimally invasive options have become available.” 

Advanced Procedures at Saint Joseph Health

• Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR): This minimally invasive procedure replaces a narrowed aortic valve without open-heart surgery.

• MitraClip: This procedure repairs a leaking mitral valve by clipping it together.

• Patent foramen ovale (PFO)/atrial septal defect (ASD) closures: During these minimally invasive procedures, holes in the heart that often exist at birth are closed to prevent abnormal blood flow and reduce stroke risk.

A Team Approach to Your Care

Saint Joseph Health’s structural heart program brings together interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiac imaging experts and specialized nurses who meet regularly to customize treatment plans for each person. This collaborative approach has earned the program national recognition for quality outcomes.

“Most patients are unaware of the minimally invasive treatment options available to them,” Dr. Soomro said. “These procedures are safe and effective alternatives to open-heart surgery.”

Click here to learn about advanced heart care at Saint Joseph Health.