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Dr. Nikhila Pachani
Interventional Cardiologist

Condition

Valvular Heart Disease

Heart valves that leak or are narrowed — often needing repair or replacement.

3D illustration of a human heart with valves visible
Worn-out or narrowed valves quietly force the heart to work harder every beat.

What it is

The heart has four valves that keep blood flowing in one direction. Valves can become narrowed (stenosis) or leaky (regurgitation), commonly from rheumatic heart disease in India, or from ageing. Many valve problems are now treated with catheter-based procedures.

Symptoms

Young girl breathless after gentle play
In Saurashtra, rheumatic valve disease often shows up first in school years.
  • Breathlessness
  • Palpitations
  • Chest discomfort
  • Swelling in the feet
  • Fainting (especially with aortic stenosis)

Risk factors

  • Childhood rheumatic fever
  • Age over 65
  • High BP
  • Previous heart attack
  • Congenital valve abnormality

How it's diagnosed

Colour Doppler echo of a leaking heart valve
Colour Doppler echo maps exactly which valve is leaking, and how badly.
  • Echocardiogram
  • Transesophageal echo (TEE)
  • Cardiac MRI
  • Angiography before surgery

Treatment options

TAVI transcatheter aortic valve in gloved hands
Many valves can now be replaced through a small groin puncture — no open surgery.
  • Medical management for mild disease
  • BMV (Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty) for rheumatic mitral stenosis
  • TAVI/TAVR for severe aortic stenosis in high-risk patients
  • Surgical valve repair or replacement

Related procedures

Echocardiography (2D/3D)

A safe ultrasound test that shows your heart pumping in real time.

Transesophageal & 3D Echo

High-resolution view of the heart through the food pipe — used for complex cases.

FAQ

Questions patients ask us most

Is rheumatic heart disease still common in India?+

Yes, especially in rural Saurashtra. Early screening and monthly penicillin injections prevent worsening.

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