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Valve Clinic (TAVR, MitraClip, ASD/PFO, Watchman)

Our structural-trained board-certified cardiologists in affiliation with the largest hospital centers in Tampa Bay Area offer a wide range of valve and cardiac structural procedures like TAVR, MitraClip, ASD/PFO closure and Watchman.

TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) for AS (Aortic Stenosis)

Aortic Stenosis (AS) is the buildup of calcium deposits on the valve, which causes it to narrow and reduce blood flow to the rest of your body. It can also be caused by a congenital birth defect (bicuspid aortic valve), rheumatic fever or radiation therapy. Risk factors include increasing age, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, smoking, deformed aortic valve or family history. It is associated with shortness of breath, fatigue, difficulty walking short distances, light-headedness, dizziness and/or fainting, swollen ankles and feet, rapid fluttering heartbeat, chest pain, inability to participate in physical activities that you used to enjoy. People who have developed symptoms from severe aortic stenosis have about a 50% chance of living 2 years and 20% at 5 years, without aortic valve replacement. TAVR is a catheter-based technique performed while the heart is still beating and may be an alternative to open-heart surgery. It is typically associated with shorter hospital stay and recovery time. Dr. Marmagkiolis and Dr. Caballero are available to discuss with you in detail about this option.

EDWARDS SAPIEN TAVR

MEDTRONIC CORE-VALVE

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Mitra-clip for MR (Mitral Regurgitation)

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a condition in which the heart’s mitral valve does not close tightly enough. This allows some of the blood in your heart to “regurgitate,” or flow backward, into your heart chambers. As a result, the heart must work harder to push blood through the body. It can be caused by a congenital birth defect (mitral valve prolapse), deposition of calcium on the mitral valve, previous heart attack, cardiomyopathy (weak heart), rheumatic fever, infections, or radiation therapy. It is associated with shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, difficulty walking short distances, light-headedness, dizziness and/or fainting, swollen ankles and feet, rapid fluttering heartbeat, chest pain, inability to participate in physical activities that you used to enjoy. It is a progressive disease that can eventually impact your quality of life, make daily activities more difficult and require frequent hospitalizations. Mitra-clip is a catheter-based technique performed while the heart is still beating and may be an alternative to open-heart surgery. It is typically associated with shorter hospital stay and recovery time. Dr. Marmagkiolis and Dr. Caballero are available to discuss with you in detail about this option.

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Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)

Foramen ovale is an opening between two chambers of the heart (atria) that allows blood to bypass the lungs in fetal circulation. Shortly after birth the foramen ovale closes permanently in most people. A patent foramen ovale (PFO) occurs when the opening does not close, and it is present in approximately 20% of the adult population. PFO’s are suspected to be a cause of cryptogenic stroke (a stroke that cannot be otherwise explained). In selected patients, PFO closure is indicated to prevent future strokes. PFO closure is a is a catheter-based technique performed while the heart is still beating and may be an alternative to open-heart surgery. It is typically associated with shorter hospital stay and recovery time. Dr. Marmagkiolis and Dr. Caballero are available to discuss with you in detail about this option.

Atrial septal defect (ASD)

An ASD is a hole in the septum that separates two chambers of the heart (atria). This heart birth defect allows oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium to flow into the right atrium instead of flowing to the left ventricle as it should. Many children who have ASDs have few or no symptoms. Many small ASDs close on their own as the heart grows during childhood. Medium to large ASDs allow more blood to leak from one atrium to the other, and they're less likely to close on their own. It is associated with shortness of breath, easy fatiguability, difficulty walking short distances, light-headedness, dizziness and/or fainting, swollen ankles and feet, rapid fluttering heartbeat and inability to participate in physical activities that you used to enjoy. Medium to large ASDs that need treatment can be repaired using a catheter procedure or open-heart surgery. ASD closure is a catheter-based technique performed while the heart is still beating and may be an alternative to open-heart surgery in selected types of ASD (ASD secundum). It is typically associated with shorter hospital stay and recovery time. Dr. Marmagkiolis and Dr. Caballero are available to discuss with you in detail about this option.

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Watchman Device for patients with atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common arrhythmia diagnosed in clinical practice. The prevalence of AFib in the United States ranges from about 2.7 million to 6.1 million. Atrial fibrillation increases your risk of having a stroke. In fact, on average, a person with AFib is 5 times more likely to suffer a stroke than someone with a regular heartbeat. The treatment of AFib typically includes blood-thinning medication to prevent blood clots from forming and reduce stroke risk. Some people are unable to take blood thinners due to previous history of serious bleeding or at risk for bleeding. The WATCHMAN device reduces stroke risk in people with atrial fibrillation without the need for blood thinner intake. Implantation of Watchman is a catheter-based technique performed while the heart is still beating. It is typically associated with short hospital stay and recovery time. Dr. Marmagkiolis and Dr. Caballero are available to discuss with you in detail about this option.

View Publications of Tampa Heart Doctors