Our Approach

The Heart Valve Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital Corrigan Minehan Heart Center provides a multidisciplinary team of experts to manage complex and common valve diseases. In this unique program, a cardiologist, echocardiographer and cardiac surgeon work together to:

• Fully diagnose and understand a patient’s valve condition
• Determine if a heart valve is repairable or needs replacement
• Determine the right time to repair or replace a valve for a patient

A Convenient Process

Our team strives to make the evaluation process convenient and efficient by coordinating care among all specialists and by quickly communicating with referring physicians.

For example, prior to a patient's initial visit, Heart Valve Program physicians collect and review all records and imaging studies to determine what additional tests or consults are needed, and when possible, to schedule those appointments on the same day.

Initial Assessment

A patient's initial evaluation in the Heart Valve Program includes a full assessment, with a determination of whether or not an intervention is necessary, and if so, which procedure is most appropriate for the patient's specific condition.

Our physicians have seen the full spectrum of heart valve disorders and are experienced in treating the following conditions:

• Valve conditions originating at birth (congenital valve diseases)
• Damage to valves caused by rheumatic fever (rheumatic valve diseases)
• Weakening or aging of the valve (degenerative valve disease)
• Valve conditions related to abnormal function of the heart muscle (ischemic conditions)
• Inflammation of the inner layer of the heart (valve endocarditis)

Treatments and Procedures

Interventional cardiologists within the Heart Valve Program are leaders in catheter-based approaches to valve disease and perform a range of procedures, including:

• Mitral and aortic valvuloplasty for stenosis
• Insertion of closure devices for prosthetic paravalvular leaks
• Clinical trials for minimally invasive replacement of aortic valves or repair for mitral valve regurgitation

Our expert cardiac surgeons offer the following open surgical procedures:

• Valve repair surgery (mitral, aortic and tricuspid valve reconstruction)
• Valve replacement surgery (mechanical and bioprosthetic valve replacement, including homografts and stentless prostheses)
• Annular enlargement procedures for aortic valve replacement in small hearts
• Valve-sparing aortic root replacement
• Apico-aortic conduits for aortic stenosis

About This Program

The Heart Valve Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital Corrigan Minehan Heart Center brings together specialists in cardiology, echocardiography and cardiac surgery to provide an optimal evaluation, treatment and care of patients with heart valve disorders.

Under the leadership of co-directors Eric Isselbacher, MD, a cardiologist with extensive experience in the evaluation and management of heart valve disease, and Cary Akins, MD, a surgeon widely recognized for his contributions to the field of heart valve repair and replacement, the Heart Valve Program is made up of experts in the evaluation and treatment of valve diseases.

In addition, all of our physicians are on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, which means they not only have a mission to provide the best possible patient care, but also a commitment to educate the next generation of medical professionals.

Making a Mark on the Field of Cardiology

Heart Valve Program physicians have made breakthroughs in diagnosing heart valve diseases. In the late 1980s, our physicians helped redefine the criteria needed to diagnose mitral valve prolapse using echocardiography. Mitral valve prolapse is a condition that occurs when the valve between the left upper chamber and the left lower chamber of the heart doesn't close properly. By redefining these criteria, our physicians helped to drastically reduce the number of misdiagnosed patients in the United States. Today our physicians are continuing research on mitral valve prolapse, but focusing on cardiac genetics and its tie in to the condition.

Innovative Research

Currently Heart Valve Program specialists are investigating the effectiveness of a novel therapy to replace and repair heart valves using minimally invasive, catheter-based approaches. The percutaneous aortic valve replacement is designed to treat patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (a narrowing of the valve that restricts blood flow) who are considered high-risk or not candidates for traditional open heart surgery. Learn more about the percutaneous aortic valve replacement

Researchers are also investigating a percutaneous mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation (leaking of the valve). The next step in mitral valve repair, this procedure uses a catheter-based approach to carefully repair the cusps of the mitral valve.

Conditions and Diseases

The care team at the Corrigan Minehan Heart Center encourages all patients and family members to learn more about conditions and diseases that affect the heart and overall cardiovascular system. The links below provide more information about heart conditions and diseases that might be treated within this program.

Aortic Stenosis

Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the opening of the heart’s aortic valve, which obstructs blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body.

Heart Valve Diseases

The heart’s valves can have one of two malfunctions - regurgitation (when the valve does not completely close) or stenosis (a narrowing of the valve).

Mitral Valve Prolapse

This detailed overview of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) covers causes, symptoms and diagnosis along with surgical treatments such as mitral valve repair.

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which permanent damage to heart valves is caused by rheumatic fever.

Support and Wellness

Mass General is dedicated to ensuring that people understand their health care choices and have the necessary information to make decisions affecting their health and well being. The related support and wellness information listed below can play a role in treatment options.

Patient Guide to Cardiac Surgery (PDF)

Learn what to expect before, during and after your surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center by downloading and printing our patient guide to cardiac surgery.

Understanding and Preparing for a Catheterization Procedure (PDF)

As you prepare for your catheterization, Massachusetts General Hospital clinicians want you to feel as comfortable as possible. To help you understand what to expect during your visit, this booklet describes key steps of your catheterization procedure.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cardiac Anesthesia

The Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center offers a patient guide to cardiac anesthesia. Our dedicated clinicians believe it is important for you to know what to expect before, during and after a cardiac anesthesia.

Visitor's Guide to Cardiac Surgery

Cardiac nurses at the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center offer support and guidance during a family member's open-heart surgery or transplantation.

Patient and Family Guide to the Heart Center (PDF)

Download our patient and family guide to the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center to learn about accommodations, visiting and parking, and patient discharge.

The following related clinical trials and research studies are currently seeking participants at Massachusetts General Hospital. Search for clinical trials and studies in another area of interest.

Patient Guide to Cardiac Surgery (PDF)

Learn what to expect before, during and after your surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center by downloading and printing our patient guide to cardiac surgery.

Understanding and Preparing for a Catheterization Procedure (PDF)

As you prepare for your catheterization, Massachusetts General Hospital clinicians want you to feel as comfortable as possible. To help you understand what to expect during your visit, this booklet describes key steps of your catheterization procedure.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cardiac Anesthesia

The Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center offers a patient guide to cardiac anesthesia. Our dedicated clinicians believe it is important for you to know what to expect before, during and after a cardiac anesthesia.

Visitor's Guide to Cardiac Surgery

Cardiac nurses at the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center offer support and guidance during a family member's open-heart surgery or transplantation.

Patient and Family Guide to the Heart Center (PDF)

Download our patient and family guide to the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center to learn about accommodations, visiting and parking, and patient discharge.

Corrigan Minehan Heart Center

Phone: 866-MGH-8910

Public Transportation Access: yes
Disabled Access: yes

If you are a new patient, you may call the Corrigan Minehan Heart Center outpatient access office at 866-MGH-8910, or complete our online appointment form to request an appointment. A member of our access team will ask you more about your condition and symptoms, and match you with the best-fitting Corrigan Minehan Heart Center physician.