Valvular heart disease develops when there is a problem with the forward flow of blood across a valve or when there is leaking of blood backwards into the wrong chamber. These abnormalities can happen with calcium deposits, infections, heart attacks or with heart failure.

Symptoms of complex valvular heart disease vary depending upon the severity of the condition. People with mild heart valve disease often have no symptoms. If valvular heart disease is severe, the following symptoms may occur:

• breathlessness 
• palpitations 
• fatigue 
• angina 
• blackouts 
• a bluish complexion
  

Treatment of complex valvular heart disease depends upon which valve is affected. When valve disease is mild, it can often be managed with medications, but when the problem becomes severe, treatment may require surgery.

Diagnosis of complex valvular disease can be made with:

• Physical exam
• X-ray
• Echocardiogram
• Coronary Angiogram
  

Physicians

• Fundador Adajar, MD
• Mark Bieniarz, MD
• Mihaela Bujoi, MD, FACC
• Brendan J. Cavanaugh, MD
• Ross Downey, MD, MS, FHRS
• Robert E. Federici, MD, FACC
• Mary Frankis, MD, PhD, FACC
• Charles Kim, MD, FACC
• Geoffrey A. Kunz, MD
• William Mansfield, MD, MPH, FACC
• Robert C. Orchard, MD
• Mel Peralta, MD
• Anita Ralstin RN, MS, CNS, CNP
• Barry Ramo, MD, FACC
• Brad Stamm, MD, FACC
• Howard S. Zeman, MD, FACC
• Mark Zolnick, MD, FACC, FSCAI

Locations

• Albuquerque, 502 Elm Street NE (505) 841-1000
• Albuquerque Westside/Rio Rancho, 2240 Grande Blvd. SE
  Suite 102 (505) 841-1000
• Espanola, 835 Spruce Street, Suite A (505) 984-8012
• Los Lunas, 1400 Main St. NW, Suite M (505) 841-1000
• Roswell, 2890 Wilshire Blvd. (575) 623-2836
• Santa Fe, 2085 S. Pacheco Street (505) 984-8012
• Socorro, 200 Neel Avenue NW (505) 841-1000

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