Why Choose Baptist Health’s Center for Heart Valves
At Baptist Health’s Center for Heart Valves, exceptional care begins with a personalized approach. Our nationally recognized team of cardiac surgeons and cardiologists are not only experts in heart valve disease but also pioneers in minimally invasive and robotic procedures.
We are proud to be Florida’s largest program for minimally invasive and robotic heart surgery, offering access to the most advanced technologies and breakthrough clinical trials. Our multidisciplinary team works together to tailor each treatment plan to your unique condition, lifestyle, and goals.
Whether you’ve received a complex diagnosis or are exploring treatment options, you can count on compassionate care and the highest level of expertise every step of the way.
What Sets Us Apart:
- National leaders in valve repair and transcatheter procedures
- State-of-the-art imaging and diagnostics
- Access to innovative technology and clinical research
- Collaborative, patient-first care designed around you
Expert Care from a Collaborative Team
Our team brings together specialists across disciplines, ensuring that you receive a truly personalized experience:
- Cardiologists
- Cardiac surgeons
- Interventional cardiologists and structural heart specialists
- Cardiac anesthesiologists
- Echocardiographers (advanced imaging experts)
We treat both common and rare heart valve conditions—including those considered inoperable elsewhere—with confidence and clarity. Our physicians recognize subtle symptoms, use the latest diagnostic tools, and deliver results that reflect our high volume of success in complex valve surgeries and minimally invasive procedures.
Our Minimally Invasive Approach
Whenever possible, our specialists use minimally invasive and robotic procedures that reduce pain, lower complication risk, and get you back to your life faster. Working closely with our structural heart team, we tailor each treatment to the patient’s anatomy, lifestyle, and goals. Our procedures are performed in state-of-the-art endovascular suites, equipped with:
- Intravascular ultrasound
- Hemodynamic physiologic testing
- Advanced cardiac and vascular analytics
From TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) to Mitral Valve Clip to robotic-assisted surgery, you can trust that you’ll receive the most advanced treatment available—delivered with precision and compassion.
By the Numbers: Heart Valve Disease
Americans are diagnosed with heart valve disease each year
deaths annually in the U.S. are caused by heart valve complications
of adults over 65 have a narrowed aortic valve
valve replacements are performed annually in the U.S.
Popular Conditions and Treatments
Understanding Your Heart Valves
Your heart is a powerful pump—and at the center of its function are four valves that control the flow of blood through your heart and out to the rest of your body. These valves open and close with each heartbeat, keeping blood moving in the right direction and preventing it from flowing backward. There are four main valves in the heart that regulate blood flow between its chambers and major blood vessels: Tricuspid valve, Pulmonary valve, Mitral valve, Aortic valve.
When one or more valves become damaged, narrowed, or leaky, your heart has to work harder to pump blood, which can affect your energy levels, breathing, and overall quality of life. If left untreated, heart valve disease can lead to serious complications, including heart failure, stroke, or sudden cardiac arrest.
How Your Heart Valves Work
Each valve plays a critical role in guiding blood through the heart’s four chambers:
Common Types of Valve Disease
Heart valve disease can occur in one or more of these valves. Common conditions include:
- Regurgitation – When a valve doesn't close properly and blood leaks backward.
- Stenosis – When a valve becomes stiff or narrowed, limiting blood flow.
- Prolapse – When valve leaflets bulge or "billow" into the chamber instead of closing tightly.
- Atresia – A congenital condition where a valve is malformed or missing.
Symptoms to Watch For
Some people may have no symptoms until the disease progresses. Others may experience:
- Shortness of breath (especially during activity or lying flat)
- Chest discomfort or tightness
- Fatigue and reduced ability to exercise
- Dizziness or fainting
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, or abdomen
- Irregular heartbeat or palpitations
Don’t ignore your symptoms. Early evaluation by our valve experts can lead to timely treatment and better outcomes.
Diagnosing Heart Valve Disease
At Baptist Health’s Center for Heart Valves, we use state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to thoroughly evaluate your valve structure and function. Our team tailors every diagnostic pathway based on your symptoms, risk factors, and medical history.
Advanced Diagnostic Tools We Use
Why Early Diagnosis Matters
Many forms of valve disease are progressive and worsen over time. Early diagnosis gives our team the chance to intervene sooner, potentially preventing complications and avoiding open surgery.
At Baptist Health, your diagnosis and treatment plan are reviewed by a collaborative team—including cardiologists, imaging specialists, and surgeons—who work together to ensure the best decision for your health.
Heart Valve Disease Treatments
Once we’ve confirmed your diagnosis, your care team will recommend the most effective and least invasive treatment option for your condition. At Baptist Health, we offer a full range of therapies, from medication management to cutting-edge surgical and transcatheter valve repair and replacement procedures.
Our Treatment Options
At Baptist Health’s Center for Heart Valves, we offer a full range of advanced treatments—many of which are minimally invasive—to help you feel better, recover faster, and return to the life you love. Your care team will work with you to determine the best option based on your condition, overall health, and personal goals.
Patient Testimonials: Real Stories, Real Results
Frequently Asked Questions
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Baptist Health’s Center for Heart Valves focuses on diagnosing and treating all types of heart valve disease.
The care team uses advanced technology and techniques, including minimally invasive procedures, to provide personalized care that supports heart function and quality of life.
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Heart valve stenosis and regurgitation describe two different types of valve problems.
Stenosis occurs when a valve becomes stiff or narrowed and does not open fully, which restricts blood flow. Regurgitation, often called a leaky valve, occurs when the valve does not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the chamber it just left.
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Symptoms of heart valve disease may develop gradually and can vary from person to person.
Common symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain or discomfort, dizziness or fainting and swelling in the ankles, feet or abdomen. Some people may not experience symptoms, which is why regular checkups are important, especially if you have risk factors for heart disease.
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The decision between valve repair and valve replacement depends on your specific condition.
Factors include your valve anatomy, how the disease is progressing and your overall health. Valve repair restores the function of your existing valve and is often preferred when possible. Valve replacement may be recommended if the valve is too damaged and involves replacing it with a mechanical or biological valve.
Your heart team will use advanced imaging and a multidisciplinary approach to determine the safest and most effective treatment plan.
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Heart valve disease is often first identified during a physical exam.
A physician may detect a heart murmur and recommend additional testing. Diagnostic tools may include echocardiography, CT imaging and cardiac catheterization. These tests help determine the severity of the condition and guide treatment decisions.
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Recovery after minimally invasive or transcatheter valve procedures is typically faster than after open-heart surgery.
Hospital stays after procedures such as TAVR or MitraClip are often one to two days. Many people are able to return to normal activities within about a week. Cardiac rehabilitation is often recommended to support recovery and long-term heart health.
Our Locations
Cardiothoracic Surgery | Boca Raton (Cooperman Pavilion)
Cardiothoracic Surgery | Boca Raton (Lynn Heart & Vascular Institute)
Cardiothoracic Surgery | Boynton Beach (Seacrest)
Pioneering The Cures Of Tomorrow
Our researchers play a vital role in helping us better understand heart and vascular disease. They participate in a wide variety of clinical trials dedicated to improving treatments that will ultimately lead to better patient outcomes. Learn more about their work and what it means to be involved in a clinical trial.
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