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Valvular & Structural Heart Disease

Interventional cardiologists with specialized training collaborate with cardiovascular surgeons at Prairie Cardiovascular to provide patient-centered care for valvular and structural heart disease.

Structural Heart Disease

What Is Structural Heart Disease?

Structural heart disease refers to conditions where the heart's structure is abnormal or impaired, which can affect its ability to function properly. This includes any damage or disease affecting the heart valves, chambers, walls, or blood vessels that are part of the heart. 

These structural problems can lead to heart failure, arrhythmias, or other complications that compromise the heart's efficiency in pumping blood.

Structural heart disease can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired (developing over time). Acquired causes include age-related changes, infections, hypertension, coronary artery disease, as well as lifestyle factors.


Structural heart disease encompasses a broad range of conditions that impact the heart's anatomy and function, including:
  • Valvular Heart Disease: This involves abnormalities in one or more of the heart's four valves: the mitral valve, aortic valve, tricuspid valve, and pulmonary valve. This includes narrowing of the valve opening (valve stenosis) or condition where the valve doesn't close properly, leading to blood leaking backward (valve regurgitation).
    • Symptoms: Fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, and swelling in the legs and abdomen.
  • Congenital Heart Defects: These are heart structural abnormalities present at birth. While some congenital defects are severe cause significant illness during childhood, some congenital heart abnormalities can be mild and manifest later in life. Examples include:
    • Septal defects (holes in the heart): These are abnormal openings in the septum that divides the heart's chambers (e.g., atrial septal defect (ASD) and ventricular septal defect (VSD).
    • Coarctation of the aorta: A narrowing of the main artery (aorta) that can obstruct blood flow.
    • Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA): A blood vessel that connects the aorta and pulmonary artery remains open after birth, causing abnormal blood flow.
  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Palpitations (feeling of irregular or rapid heartbeats)
  • Shortness of breath (especially with physical activity)
  • Swelling in the legs, ankles, or abdomen (edema)

Management of Structural Heart Disease

Comprehensive treatment options range from medications, minimally invasive catheter-based technologies, to surgical procedures to help repair or replace damaged cardiac structures and valves. 

Innovative treatments offered by our Structural Heart team include:


Main Locations

Prairie Cardiovascular - Springfield

619 E. Mason St. Springfield, IL 62701

By Appointment Only

Details 217-788-0706

Prairie Cardiovascular - O'Fallon

Three St. Elizabeth's Blvd., Suite 2800 O'Fallon, IL 62269

By Appointment Only

Details 618-233-6044

Prairie Cardiovascular - Carbondale

409 West Oak St. Carbondale, IL 62901

Mon - Fri: 8 am - 4:30 pm

Details 618-529-4455

Prairie Cardiovascular - Decatur

1800 E. Lake Shore Dr. Decatur, IL 62521

By Appointment Only

Details 217-422-6100

Prairie Cardiovascular - Effingham

503 N. Maple Effingham, IL 62401

Mon - Fri: 8 am - 4:30 pm

Details 217-342-3700

Outreach Locations

To better serve our Prairie Cardiovascular patients, Prairie has 25 outreach locations for follow-up and routine visits.

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