What Is Structural Heart Disease?

Structural heart disease involves abnormalities in the heart's physical structure, including its valves, walls, chambers, or vessels. These issues can be congenital, meaning they are present at birth, or they can develop over time due to aging, infection, or wear and tear.

In simple terms, structural heart conditions are mechanical problems. The heart's components don't function properly. A valve might not open or close properly, a wall could have a hole, or a chamber might become enlarged or stiff.

Types of Structural Heart Conditions

Common structural heart conditions include:

• Aortic stenosis: The aortic valve narrows, restricting blood flow from the heart. It is one of the most common valve conditions in older adults.

• Mitral regurgitation: The mitral valve does not close completely, causing blood to leak backward into the heart.

• Tricuspid regurgitation: Similar to mitral regurgitation, but it affects the tricuspid valve on the right side of the heart.

• Atrial septal defect (ASD): A hole in the wall between the heart's upper chambers, sometimes present from birth and undetected until adulthood.

• Patent foramen ovale (PFO): A small, flap-like opening between the upper chambers that never fully closed after birth. Often linked to cryptogenic stroke in younger patients.

• Left atrial appendage (LAA) dysfunction: In patients with atrial fibrillation, the LAA is a common site where blood clots form and can travel to the brain, causing a stroke.

Many of these conditions develop slowly and might not cause noticeable symptoms for years, which is why regular monitoring and early evaluation are important.

"Many of our patients come to us after years of being told to 'watch and wait.' The good news is that today's treatments are far less invasive than they used to be, and most people are back to their normal routine much sooner than they expect." — Sarah Little, FLCVP Structural Heart Program APRN

Advanced Treatment Options for Structural Heart Disease

The good news is that many structural heart conditions can now be treated without traditional open-heart surgery.

At Florida Cardiovascular Partners, we focus on minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures that repair or replace the affected part of the heart, improving blood flow and reducing symptoms with shorter recovery times.

"Our structural heart program is led by a focused, clinically experienced team that delivers advanced, catheter-based therapies locally on the Treasure Coast—combining leading-edge treatment with the convenience and continuity of care close to home” -- Stephen E. McIntyre, MD, FLCVP, Structural Heart Program Medical Director

We offer a comprehensive range of structural heart treatments:

• TAVR: A clinically proven, minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery for patients with severe aortic stenosis. Rather than opening the chest, the procedure is performed through a small catheter, typically inserted through the femoral artery in the leg

• MitraClip™:A catheter-based procedure to repair a leaking mitral valve without open-heart surgery

• Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (LAAO): Reduces stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation by closing off the LAA, where blood clots most commonly form

• Tricuspid valve interventions: Emerging catheter-based options for tricuspid regurgitation

• Comprehensive heart valve evaluations: Including echocardiography, CT imaging, and multidisciplinary review

Every treatment plan is tailored to your individual condition, health history, and personal goals.

Ready to speak with a heart specialist?

At Florida Cardiovascular Partners, our Structural Heart Team sees patients across the Treasure Coast, including Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Palm Beach counties.

Patients may call or fax a referral to:

• Phone: 772-286-9400

• Fax 772-283-3832

Our structural heart team:

• Dr. McIntyre – TAVR, LAAO, MitraClip

• Dr. McManus – TAVR, LAAO, MitraClip

• Dr. Chaudhry – TAVR, LAAO, MitraClip

• Dr. Deutch – TAVR, LAAO, MitraClip

• Sarah Little, APRN – Program APRN

In addition to physicians, nurses, and advanced practice providers, our Structural Heart Team includes a dedicated scheduler and hospital coordinator because we believe that every patient deserves personalized care.