Chronic total occlusion (CTO) is a complete or nearly complete blockage of one or more coronary arteries. The blockage, typically present for at least three months, is caused by a buildup of plaque within a coronary artery. When this happens, blood flow to the heart is compromised.
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.
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.
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.
