When you choose the Comprehensive Aortic Program at the University of Michigan Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center, you’ll find a world-class level of experience and expertise. As leaders in the field of aortic disease, our surgeons are at the forefront of developing new surgical techniques. The Comprehensive Aortic Program is the busiest in the state and among the largest in the U.S. We are a premier center for the care of patients with complex aortic diseases.
Most patients with heart valve problems are concerned about the prospect of heart surgery. The Frankel Cardiovascular Center’s Comprehensive Heart Valve Program offers several minimally invasive and transcatheter options for valve repair and replacement. Our world-renowned specialists work with you to identify the safest and most effective treatment option. We provide expert care to protect your health and help you feel better as quickly as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions about peripheral arterial disease or PAD (sometimes called peripheral vascular disease) and how the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center's Peripheral Arterial Disease Clinic can help.
The mitral valve controls the flow of blood going in one direction from the lungs to the body. If the valve does not close properly, or open completely, the heart may have to work twice as hard to do its job, which can lead to life threatening heart conditions. Frankel Cardiovascular Center heart doctors offer advanced mitral valve treatments that can't be found at other hospitals because of U-M's involvement in clinical trials.
Treatment options for mitral valve disease include medication therapy, open-heart surgery, and minimally invasive procedures, both surgical and transcatheter. Performing these repairs early in the disease process before a patient's mitral valve disease progresses into advanced heart conditions such as congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and pulmonary hypertension is our top priority.
Treatments for peripheral artery disease or PAD (sometimes called peripheral vascular disease) include both surgical and non-surgical options. All PAD patients are treated using risk factor management and exercise. Surgery is reserved for patients with the most serious symptoms.
A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a hole between the heart’s upper chambers (the left and right atria) that failed to close after birth .Although a PFO is not generally cause for concern, some studies indicate the condition is more common in those who experience unexplained strokes or migraines with aura. PFO patients at Michigan Health undergo a thorough evaluation by experts in both stroke neurology and interventional cardiology.
The difference between peripheral artery disease or PAD (sometimes called peripheral vascular disease) and heart disease is that the blockages are outside your heart, usually in the legs. The University of Michigan’s Peripheral Arterial Disease Program brings together a multidisciplinary team of physicians to create a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive procedure used to replace the aortic valve in people with severe aortic stenosis. In the past, valve replacement required open heart surgery. With TAVR, our doctors use a catheter (thin tube) to fit a new valve inside the diseased valve.
The MitraClip procedure is used to treat patients who have symptoms because of mitral regurgitation. The MitraClip procedure does not require opening the chest or temporarily stopping your heart (cardiopulmonary bypass). Instead, doctors access your heart through a vein in your leg to repair your mitral valve. The MitraClip procedure may be an option for patients with mitral regurgitation who are too sick for surgery or considered too high risk.
Over time (approximately 10 to 15 years), tissue heart valves (or bioprosthetic valves) degenerate and eventually fail, requiring the need for replacement. TAVR technology offers a minimally invasive procedure to patients who previously underwent open-heart surgery for a bioprosthetic valve. This option is especially beneficial for high-risk patients as it allows them to recover in less time — typically one week versus three months. Using the less invasive “valve-in-valve” procedure, a new transcatheter valve is tightly placed into the orifice of the failed surgical valve, pushing the old valve leaflets aside.
