Intermountain Health Heart & Vascular – Denver Structural Heart
This department offers
- Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
- Clinical Cardiology
- Structural heart disease treatment
- Vascular and Vein Program
Structural heart care in Denver, Colorado
Advanced structural heart care, backed by national accreditation.
Saint Joseph Hospital is home to one of Colorado's busiest and most experienced structural heart and valve programs. As a Certified Transcatheter Valve Program, we offer minimally invasive treatment options including: TAVR, TEER/MitraClip, tricuspid valve procedures, and WATCHMAN left atrial appendage closure.
Our specialized team uses advanced hybrid operating rooms and cardiac labs to deliver comprehensive structural heart care for patients across Denver and the surrounding region.
Why patients choose Saint Joseph Hospital
Saint Joseph Hospital brings together interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, imaging specialists, and cardiovascular experts to provide coordinated structural heart care. Patients benefit from advanced technology, minimally invasive treatment options, and a highly experienced team dedicated to improving outcomes and quality of life.
- Certified expertise: Our team operates as a Certified Transcatheter Valve Program, meeting rigorous standards for advanced transcatheter valve procedures.
- High-volume experience: Patients receive care from one of Colorado's busiest structural heart and valve programs with extensive experience managing complex heart conditions.
- Recognized surgical outcomes: The program has achieved STS 3-Star rated outcomes for CABG and AVR procedures, reflecting a commitment to quality and patient safety.
- Access to innovation: Patients may have access to national clinical trials, including studies involving MitraClip and PASCAL transcatheter valve repair therapies.
- Advanced technology: Hybrid operating rooms and specialized cardiac cath and electrophysiology labs support minimally invasive structural heart procedures.
Structural heart care FAQs
Answers to common questions about structural heart disease, valve treatments, and care at Saint Joseph Hospital.
Saint Joseph Hospital brings together interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, imaging specialists, and cardiovascular experts to provide comprehensive structural heart care. Patients benefit from advanced treatment options, coordinated care, and nationally recognized expertise in heart valve therapies.
Yes. The structural heart program is supported by advanced technology, experienced specialists, and nationally recognized quality standards. Our commitment to excellence helps ensure patients receive evidence-based care for complex heart valve and structural heart conditions.
A Certified Transcatheter Valve Program is a national recognition indicating a program meets rigorous standards for performing transcatheter valve procedures safely and effectively. It reflects the expertise, technology, and multidisciplinary collaboration needed to treat complex valve disease.
Our program offers TAVR, TEER/MitraClip, tricuspid valve interventions, and WATCHMAN left atrial appendage closure. Many of these treatments are minimally invasive options designed to reduce recovery time and help patients return to daily activities sooner.
Our structural heart coordinators help guide patients and referring providers through every step of the process.
Structural Heart Nurse Coordinators:
- Raychelle Estacio, RN, MSN, PCCN
- Sarah Duart, RN, BSN, PCCN
Call: 303-381-1991
Structural heart disease refers to conditions affecting the heart's valves, chambers, or other structures that help blood flow properly through the heart. Common examples include aortic stenosis, mitral valve disease, and tricuspid valve disease. Many conditions can now be treated using advanced minimally invasive procedures.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat severe aortic valve disease. Rather than opening the chest, physicians replace the valve through a catheter inserted into a blood vessel. Many patients experience less discomfort and faster recovery compared with traditional surgery.
Heart valve disease may develop gradually. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, chest discomfort, heart palpitations, or reduced ability to perform daily activities. If you have a heart murmur or are experiencing symptoms, a structural heart evaluation may help determine the cause.
Both procedures treat damaged heart valves, but they use different approaches. Open-heart surgery requires a surgical incision and typically involves a longer recovery. TAVR is performed through a catheter and may be an option for eligible patients. Your structural heart team will determine the best treatment based on your condition and overall health.
Age alone does not determine eligibility for TAVR. Many patients in their 70s, 80s, and 90s have undergone the procedure successfully. Our structural heart team evaluates each patient's health, symptoms, and goals to recommend the most appropriate treatment option.
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