Non-surgical treatment of the heart
Balloon dilatation and stenting
When a coronary artery is found to be significantly narrowed, it can often be expanded using a balloon (dilatation). The cardiologists will then leave a small tube (a stent) in place to keep it dilated.
Percutaneous aortic valve replacement (TAVI)
Using the TAVI technique (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) cardiologists and cardiac surgeons can replace the aortic valve via the artery in your groin. This treatment can only be used for certain forms of aortic valve disease.
Percutaneous Mitral valve treatment (Mitraclip®)
This treatment allows a severely leaking mitral valve to be treated via the artery in your groin. This treatment can only be used for certain forms of mitral valve disease.
Minimally invasive tricuspid valve treatment (TriClip™)
This minimally invasive technique enables leaking tricuspid valves to be treated via the femoral artery. It is used for patients who cannot be considered for traditional heart surgery.
Percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage (Watchman®, Amulet®)
This technique can be used to close the left atrial appendage via the artery in your groin. The left atrial appendage is the place where most blood clots occur in the heart. In patients with specific heart rhythm problems (atrial fibrillation) who need anticoagulants but are unable to take them due to major side effects (bleeding), closing the left atrial appendage can be a good solution to avoid the formation of blood clots. In this way the risk of a stroke can be considerably reduced.
Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO), atrial septal defect (ASD) and ventricular septal defect or rupture (VSD and VSR)
This treatment technique makes it possible to close a congenital or acquired abnormality in the (gap in the) atrial or ventricular dividing wall (the septum) using a small ‘umbrella’ that is inserted in the artery in your groin. This has to be done if the PFO/ASD causes symptoms such as a stroke or shortness of breath due to heart failure. Although this condition is often congenital, symptoms may not begin to occur until much later in life.