Valves

The Maritime Heart Center has a long standing interest and excellent track record in valvular heart surgery. We have been among the first centres in Canada to gain significant experience in cutting edge technologies such as stentless aortic valve replacement, valve sparing root replacement, and complex mitral valve repair techniques. We currently offer a complete array of valve repair and replacement techniques to our patients with procedures tailored to our patients’ particular needs. In depth discussions with patients beforehand ensure that the procedure chosen offers an effective treatment for their particular valve condition, with attention to both providing a procedure with the lowest risk and one that is matched to a patient’s lifestyle needs. In appropriate patients, minimally invasive valve surgery techniques can be offered which allow valve replacement or repair through small incisions (less than 7 cm).

As we do with all of our cardiac procedures, we are constantly monitoring our patient outcomes both short and long term which allows us to refine our techniques to offer the most effective and safe operations to our patients. We are also involved as a site in a number of multi-centred valve trials where new valve designs can be studied and followed. These programs allow appropriate patients to take advantage of the newest valvular technologies as they fit a patient’s particular needs. We perform approximately 250 valve repair/replacement operations per year at our centre. A multidisciplinary team approach ensures optimal patient outcomes and a smooth transition back to a fully functional lifestyle. Educational programs provided to patients before discharge assure optimal care and follow up of either replaced or repaired valves for patients.