What Is Heart Valve Disease?
The heart has four valves — the mitral, aortic, tricuspid, and pulmonary valves — that regulate blood flow through its chambers. Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of these valves fail to open or close properly, disrupting normal blood flow. The two main types of dysfunction are stenosis (narrowing, restricting flow) and regurgitation (leaking, causing backflow). Left untreated, valve disease can lead to heart failure, stroke, arrhythmia, and death. Shanghai's Zhongshan Hospital cardiac surgery department is one of China's most experienced centers for valve repair and replacement.
Symptoms
- Shortness of breath, especially during activity or when lying flat
- Fatigue and weakness
- Heart murmur (detected by a doctor)
- Chest pain or tightness
- Dizziness or fainting (syncope)
- Swollen ankles, feet, or abdomen (fluid retention)
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
Common Types of Valve Disease
- Aortic stenosis — the most common valve disease in older adults; calcification narrows the aortic valve opening
- Mitral regurgitation — the mitral valve leaks, causing blood to flow backward into the left atrium
- Mitral stenosis — often caused by rheumatic fever; the mitral valve narrows, restricting blood flow
- Aortic regurgitation — the aortic valve leaks, causing volume overload of the left ventricle
- Congenital valve defects — bicuspid aortic valve and other structural abnormalities present from birth
Causes & Risk Factors
- Age-related calcification — the leading cause of aortic stenosis in adults over 65
- Rheumatic fever — a common cause of mitral stenosis, particularly in Asia
- Congenital heart defects
- Infective endocarditis — bacterial infection of the valve
- Connective tissue disorders — Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Prior heart attack causing papillary muscle dysfunction
- Radiation therapy to the chest
Diagnosis
Comprehensive valve assessment at Zhongshan Hospital includes:
- Echocardiography (transthoracic and transesophageal) — the primary tool for valve assessment, measuring severity of stenosis or regurgitation
- 3D echocardiography — for detailed anatomical assessment of valve morphology
- Cardiac CT — for TAVR planning and aortic root measurement
- Cardiac MRI — for quantification of regurgitation and myocardial function
- Coronary angiography — to assess concomitant coronary artery disease before surgery
- Exercise stress testing — to unmask symptoms in apparently asymptomatic patients
Treatment Options
Zhongshan Hospital's cardiac surgery and structural heart disease teams offer the full range of valve interventions:
- Surgical valve repair — the preferred approach for mitral regurgitation; preserves the native valve and offers excellent long-term outcomes
- Surgical valve replacement — with mechanical valves (lifelong anticoagulation required) or bioprosthetic valves (tissue-based, no long-term anticoagulation)
- Minimally invasive valve surgery — via small incisions or robotic-assisted approaches, reducing recovery time
- Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) — a catheter-based procedure for high-risk or inoperable aortic stenosis patients; avoids open-heart surgery
- MitraClip (transcatheter mitral valve repair) — a catheter-based clip procedure for high-risk mitral regurgitation patients
- Balloon valvuloplasty — for mitral stenosis, particularly in younger patients or as a bridge to surgery
- Combined procedures — valve surgery performed simultaneously with CABG or other cardiac procedures
Why Treat Valve Disease in Shanghai?
- Zhongshan Hospital performs hundreds of valve surgeries annually, with outcomes benchmarking against leading global cardiac centers
- One of China's most experienced TAVR programs, with expertise in complex and high-risk structural heart interventions
- Dedicated structural heart disease team combining interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons in a true heart team approach
- Access to the latest transcatheter valve technologies at significantly lower cost than in Western countries
- Treatment costs typically 60–75% lower than equivalent care in the US, UK, or Australia
Our Specialist
Professor Wang Chunsheng (王春生) — Chief of Cardiac Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. Professor Wang is one of China's foremost cardiac surgeons, with expertise in valve repair and replacement, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, and complex combined cardiac procedures. He leads a high-volume program with exceptional surgical outcomes and is a key contributor to Chinese cardiac surgery guidelines.
How CMCS Can Help
Heart valve disease requires careful evaluation and expert surgical planning. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) coordinates your complete cardiac care journey — from arranging echocardiographic assessment and specialist consultations with Professor Wang's team, to facilitating surgical scheduling, providing medical interpretation, and supporting your post-operative recovery and follow-up care in Shanghai.
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