Heart Valve Disease

Heart Valve Disease Treatment in Dubai at Emirates Hospitals. Heart valve diseases are conditions that affect one or more of the heart’s four valves. With each heartbeat, valves open and close to keep blood flowing in the proper direction. At Emirates our cardiology department is operated by UK, US and French Board-Certified Cardiologists. 

Types of Heart Valve Disease

Heart valve problems can arise if the valves are:

• Leaking (regurgitation)
• Excessively narrow (stenosis)
• Have a lack of suitable opening (atresia)

Our UK, US & French Board-Certified Cardiologists are experts at diagnosing and treating a wide range of heart valve complications and diseases.

Symptoms of Heart Valve Disease

Some of the common symptoms of heart valve disease include:

• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Irregular heartbeat
• Swelling of ankles and feet
• Fatigue
• Abdominal swelling
• A whooshing sound which can be heard when the doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to the patient’s heart

Complications of Heart Valve Disease

If left untreated, heart valve disease can lead to complications such as:

• Blood clots
• Stroke
• Heart failure
• Heart rhythm abnormalities
• Death

Causes of heart valve diseases

The four valves of the heart namely the mitral, tricuspid, pulmonary, and aortic valves open and close once per heartbeat. When one or more of the valves fail to open or close properly, blood flow through a person’s heart to the body is disrupted.

Heart valve disease may be congenital-present at birth or develops in adults due to various causes and conditions such as infections and other heart conditions.

Diagnosis of Heart Valve Disease

To make a definitive diagnosis, our cardiologist will conduct a physical exam that will involve listening to the patient’s heart murmur, a possible sign of a heart valve condition.

The following tests might be recommended during the diagnosis:

• Echocardiogram (ECG): This test uses sound waves to create an image of the patient’s blood flow and heartbeat.
• Cardiac CT: This involves the use of X-rays to make a video of the patient’s blood vessels and heart.
• Exercise stress test: This is used to test how the heart responds to extremely vigorous activity.
• Cardiac catheterization: Involves the use of a small tube/catheter that is inserted through a blood vessel to measure the patient’s blood flow and pressure.

Treatment of Heart Valve Disease in Dubai

Treatment for heart valve disease is based on the patient’s symptoms, the severity of the condition, and if it is worsening with time. During the treatment period, a cardiologist will monitor the patient’s condition with regular follow-ups. Treatment may include

• Medication to treat the symptoms
• Healthy lifestyle changes

In more advance cases the following maybe recommended:

• Minimally Invasive Procedures & Surgery: This is the main approach for repairing or replacing damaged valves. Open-heart surgery is traditional, but minimally invasive procedures using catheters (TAVR) are becoming increasingly common.
• Valve Repair: When possible, surgeons prefer to fix the existing valve. This often leads to faster recovery and better long-term outcomes.
• Valve Replacement: If repair isn’t feasible, surgeons replace the valve with a mechanical or biological prosthetic valve.