We are pleased and honored that people from throughout the Pacific Northwest — and beyond — choose to receive their care from SHVI’s Structural Heart and Valve Disease team because of our:
- Team Approach
- World-Class Facilities
- Personalized Care
- Leading-Edge Research
Thank you for considering Swedish for your structural heart and valve disease care.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment or request a second opinion, please give us a call.
The graphic below reveals the breadth of therapies offered by the SHVI Structural Heart and Valve Disease Program.
Click for larger image
The Swedish Structural Heart and Valve Disease team believes in providing the right therapy for the right patient at the right time.
The expertise of our team, and new technologies and therapies allow us to treat many patients who may have previously been considered too old or too sick for a heart procedure. We have successfully treated many patients who are even 90 years old or older, as well as patients with multiple medical conditions and/or those who have been told there are no other available options.
We always focus on doing what is necessary to achieve the best possible outcome for each of our patients.
Diagnosing and treating structural heart and valve disease requires the expertise of many different types of health care providers, such as: cardiologists (physicians who have received additional training in diagnosing and treating diseases and abnormalities of the heart); heart and vascular surgeons; imaging specialists; electrophysiologists (physicians with additional training in evaluating the electrical aspects of body functions, such as the electrical activity of the heart, and diagnosing conditions caused by abnormal electrical activity); anesthesiologists (a physician or nurse who has additional training in the use of medicines that put you to sleep or make you drowsy, so your pain is controlled and you are relaxed during surgery or other procedures); specially trained nurses, nurse practitioners (registered nurses with additional training that can provide medical care, order tests and prescribe medicine without the direct supervision of a physician); physician assistants (licensed health care professionals who can diagnose and treat medical conditions, order tests and prescribe medicine), technicians, and patient care coordinators.
We have designed the Structural Heart and Valve Disease Program to make it as easy as possible for you to receive the care and information you need. We personalize our care for you by creating a team that is most appropriate for your needs. Your team will guide you through your care process. Together, team members evaluate your condition, review images, confirm your diagnosis and determine a treatment plan that will give you the best outcome.
Swedish has invested in the facilities and technology to support the team approach to caring for critically ill patients with structural heart conditions.
For example, SHVI is a pioneer in hybrid operating rooms. These ORs have all of the surgical, real-time
advanced imaging and anesthesiology technology for either traditional open-heart surgery or interventional, transcatheter, minimally invasive cardiac procedures. Swedish designed these ORs to support great communication and collaboration among team members. Cardiologists, heart and vascular surgeons, and anesthesiologists work side by side in a hybrid OR to perform procedures that combine both open-heart and minimally invasive techniques at the same time. This close working relationship ensures each patient receives the best possible care and achieves the best possible results.
While you are in the hospital, we will make sure you are comfortable before, during and after your procedure. We will focus on providing the care that is essential to your recovery.
Conscious Sedation
Conscious sedation — also known as twilight sedation — is an example of how we focus our expertise on your recovery. Conscious sedation is a type of anesthesia that blocks pain, and allows you to be relaxed and nearly asleep during your procedure. It uses a combination of a sedative (to relax the patient) and an anesthetic (to control pain) that is administered by an anesthesiologist. There are many benefits to using conscious sedation, such as:
- No breathing tube — although you may receive additional oxygen through a mask
- You and your surgeon and/or cardiologist can communicate during your procedure, which means your doctors can make sure you are not feeling pain
- Recovery in your own hospital room, rather than in an intensive care unit
- Lower risk of pneumonia and infection because you may be able to get up sooner after surgery
- An earlier departure from the hospital and a quicker return to your normal routine
Watch a video about conscious sedation, courtesy of Seattle’s KOMO News: "
New procedure keeps patient awake during heart surgery"
Our specialists are leaders in their areas of expertise. They participate in research projects that may give their patients access to treatments that are not readily available elsewhere. Their research projects may involve new valves, devices, procedures, imaging or 3D printing. They are often invited to present their findings at local, national and international conferences.
Learn more about research related to structural heart and valve disease >
In addition to searching for new and improved therapies, we are also committed to educating future specialists through our Structural Heart Fellowship.