Any time an abnormality or defect weakens the heart’s structure – its walls, valves and muscles—it’s referred to as structural heart disease. In a healthy heart, the four valves work together to move blood from the upper to the lower chambers, pushing it out to the lungs and other organs. One or more defective valves can affect the heart’s normal function and may lead to serious health complications.
Structural heart defects can be treated through traditional open-heart surgery, or through several minimally invasive procedures.