Structural Heart Program
At Providence Heart Institute of Spokane, we’re experts at treating structural heart disease – whether it was present at birth or developed over time. Our team of specialists works with you to create a personalized treatment plan from diagnosis through post-treatment support. So you can get relief from symptoms, reduce your risk of more serious complications and feel confident in your care.
Our Approach to Structural Heart Conditions
Structural heart disease is a defect in the heart’s valves, walls, chambers or muscles. It may be congenital, meaning it’s present at or before birth, or it can develop over time because of other health conditions, such as heart disease.
At Providence Heart Institute of Spokane, we have all the resources needed to treat structural heart disease – from a diagnosis and treatment to post-care support. With the only congenital heart program in the region, we offer specialized monitoring, lifestyle modifications, medication, surgery and more.
Our doctors use both open-heart surgery and minimally invasive procedures to correct structural issues in the heart and reduce symptoms. Your recovery is our priority, along with the long-term support you need to maintain the lifestyle you desire.
Structural Heart Conditions We Treat
Our expert cardiac teams at Providence Heart Institute of Spokane use the most effective therapies to treat patients with all types of structural heart disease, including:
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease
- Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
- Mitral Valve Diseases
- Stroke
- Ventricular Septal Defect
- Structural Heart Disease
Meet Our Heart Care Team
At Providence Heart Institute of Spokane, you’ll be cared for by a tightly connected group of specialists who bring deep expertise and a personalized approach to treatment, prevention, and long-term wellness. Our experts work collaboratively to support your health through every stage of care.
Testing & Diagnostics
Our structural heart experts use advanced testing and diagnostic tools to diagnose and monitor heart conditions in patients of all ages. By taking a closer look at your heart and how it functions, we can make an earlier, more accurate diagnosis for better treatment outcomes.
A cardiac MRI is a noninvasive way for your care team to obtain detailed images of your heart using MRI technology to help them make a diagnosis. It can show problems with heart structure, abnormal blood flow or tissue damage.
CT scans use a combination of X-rays and computer technology to produce clear images of the body that can be used to monitor a variety of conditions, including tumors. Our services also include low-dose CT lung cancer screenings and coronary calcium scans to help evaluate calcium deposits that may have collected in the heart’s arteries.
Diagnostic procedures, like echocardiograms, allow our doctors to more accurately diagnose and better treat cardiovascular conditions.
Echocardiography uses ultrasound technology to produce detailed images of the heart’s valves and chambers. Through a monitor, your doctor can evaluate how the heart is pumping blood in real time.
An ECG/EKG is a test that uses electrodes to record electrical signals from your heart. The electrical signals detect your heart rate and rhythm and help your doctor accurately evaluate the heart’s function.
An electrophysiology test uses special wires, called temporary electrode catheters, placed in the atrium and/or ventricle along the conduction areas of the heart. An electrophysiology cardiologist conducts a series of tests to identify the areas of the heart that are causing the problems and determine the best course of treatment.
Heart catheterization is a common diagnostic procedure that helps your doctor check how well your heart is working and if you need treatment.
During the procedure, your interventional cardiologist inserts a long, narrow tube called a catheter through a blood vessel in your leg or arm and guides it to the heart. Then, they may take an X-ray, open a narrowed artery or valve or take a tissue sample.
This exam uses a thin tube, called an endoscope, with a built-in sound wave transducer to help view the heart in greater detail. The endoscope is inserted into your chest via the mouth. Then, the transducer emits ultrasound waves to help produce images. Often, sedatives and numbing agents are provided for your comfort.
Structural Heart Treatments
We offer a wide range of procedures to treat structural heart disease. Whenever possible, we use a minimally invasive approach to improve patient outcomes and decrease recovery time.
An atrial clip is a fabric-coated metal device used during a left atrial appendage ligation in people with atrial fibrillation (AFib). The device closes off a small pouch called the left atrial appendage at its base to help prevent clots forming in this part of the heart.
People may receive an atrial clip to reduce their risk of stroke or major bleeding events when they stop taking blood thinner medications.
An atrial septal defect (ASD) closure is an open-heart surgery or minimally invasive procedure to close a hole between the two upper chambers of the heart. Your doctor may plug the hole with a device, cover it with a patch or sew it closed.
If you’re a patient with atrial fibrillation with an increased stroke risk and are unable to take blood thinners, a minimally invasive option may be recommended for you. Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a one-time procedure that helps reduce stroke risk by targeting the area of the heart where most blood clots form.
Patent ductus arteriosus closure (PDA) is a procedure used to treat babies who are born with improper blood flow between the heart and lungs. The goal of the procedure is to close an opening called the patent ductus arteriosus.
In this minimally invasive procedure, a doctor may close the PDA by inserting a plug or coil using a catheter, or small tube. They may also close the PDA with stitches or a clip by performing a surgery through the side of the chest.
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure is a minimally invasive procedure to plug a hole between the heart’s two upper chambers. Typically, this hole closes after birth, but in some cases, it remains open and may cause heart issues or an increased risk of stroke.
During the procedure, a doctor inserts a small tube called a catheter into a vein and guides it to the heart, where they insert a PFO closure device to close the opening.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery for patients who need valve replacement to treat severe aortic stenosis. To complete TAVR, a doctor inserts a new, collapsible artificial aortic valve into the heart with a thin flexible tube called a catheter, requiring only a small incision in the thigh or groin.
The MitraClip is the world’s first transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) therapy for patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) who aren’t candidates for open-heart surgery.
When you have MR, the heart’s mitral valve doesn’t close properly, causing blood to leak backward or regurgitate into the upper chamber of the heart. Receiving the MitraClip device can reduce regurgitation by tightening the mitral valve’s seal.
Ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure is a procedure to close a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart. VSD is a congenital heart condition, present at birth. Most VSDs close on their own, but larger holes may require intervention in early childhood.
A VSD closure can be an open-heart surgery where a doctor closes the hole with stitches or a patch, or a minimally invasive transcatheter procedure where a doctor accesses and plugs the hole with a device, through an artery.
