Mitral Valve Disease (Regurgitation) The mitral valve is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle and controls the flow of blood as it returns from the lungs before being pumped out to the body. It is a one-way valve that opens and closes with each heartbeat. When open, the valve allows blood to pass from the atrium into the ventricle. When closed, it prevents blood from returning to the atrium. A healthy mitral valve maintains blood flow in one direction, from the atrium to the ventricle, and from the ventricle to the rest of the body.

Pacemaker A pacemaker is a small device that prevents the heart from beating too slowly. The device stimulates the heart muscle when the heart rate is too slow or altogether absent. Over time pacemakers have become smaller and more durable. Inova Heart & Vascular Institute was the first facility in Northern Virginia to offer "leadless" pacemakers (i.e., without wires) in addition to traditional pacemakers with at least one wire that goes through the vein to the inside of the heart.

History and Development of Pacemaker Technology By Dr. Marc Wish, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiologist and cardiovascular disease specialist The evolution of the modern pacemaker is a wonderful story in the advancement of technology and our understanding about how the heart rhythm works. The first pacemaker was implanted in a person in 1958. It didn’t last very long, though that patient lived to age 88 and had 26 pacemakers in his lifetime. Pacemakers entered the modern era in 1969 with the first lithium battery. A man landed on the moon the same year pacemakers had better batteries.

Vineet Kumar, MD A member of Inova Medical Group Close description about Inova Medical Group members The doctors of Inova Medical Group are Inova’s premier primary care and specialty physicians, offering top-notch medical expertise, full access to Inova facilities, and the convenience of integrated electronic medical records. Specialty: Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Internal Medicine Close description about Inova Medical Group members Board-certified specialties granted by an ABMS Member Board. Learn more about board certification.

Peripheral Aneurysm Aneurysms occur when part of an artery wall weakens, allowing it to balloon out or widen abnormally. Peripheral aneurysms affect the arteries other than the aorta. These are most commonly located in the legs. Symptoms of Peripheral Aneurysm Expand Content Most patients are asymptomatic, meaning they have no symptoms. Peripheral aneurysms generally do not rupture but may send a clot from within the aneurysm to the arteries downstream. Occasionally, this is a limb-threatening condition.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)/Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) occurs when the arteries narrow due to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). When symptoms are present, the most common are cramping, discomfort, or tiredness in the leg muscles while walking or exercising. PAD is a slow and progressive circulation disorder. Areas affected by PAD, such as the arms and legs, may not receive adequate blood flow.  If left untreated, in severe cases this can cause irreversible damage.

Pulmonary Embolism A pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a blood clot breaks free from its site of origin and travels to the lungs, forming a blockage in an artery. Symptoms of PE include chest pain, shortness of breath, severe cough, coughing up of blood and even sudden death. Pulmonary embolism is the major concern for patients experiencing deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Symptoms of Pulmonary Embolism The following are the most common symptoms of a pulmonary embolism.

Renal Hypertension/Renal Vascular Disease Approximately five percent of people with hypertension or high blood pressure suffer from renal or renovascular hypertension, caused by narrowing or blockage in the arteries to the kidneys. With this blockage, the kidneys see a reduction of blood pressure and compensate for it by causing a rise in overall blood pressure, resulting in systemic hypertension. Early in its course, this hypertension can be treated with medication. However, as the blockage worsens, hypertension may become severe and difficult to control, even with multiple medications.

Stent Implant Stent implantation usually follows angioplasty. The stent (a small metal mesh tube device) is placed in the newly-opened artery and pressed into the artery wall. It acts as a scaffold to help keep the artery open and will remain in place permanently. The stent is placed in the newly-opened artery and pressed into the artery wall. It acts as a scaffold to help keep the artery open and will remain in place permanently. At Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, we offer patients the latest in stent technology: drug-eluting stents.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) TAVR is a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery to replace the aortic valve in people with aortic valve stenosis. Aortic valve stenosis occurs when the heart's aortic valve narrows, preventing it from fully opening and obstructing blood flow from the heart.  TAVR is much less invasive than open-heart surgery, which requires opening the patient's chest and stopping the heart using a heart-lung machine while the surgeon removes the old valve and sews in the new one.