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Care for bicuspid aortic valve disease (BAVD) involves lifelong surveillance and specialized treatment. Penn Medicine is the only health system in the Philadelphia region to offer a comprehensive program specifically for patients with BAVD and associated thoracic aortic aneurysm.
At the Center for Bicuspid Aortic Valve Diseases, you’ll find:
In BAVD, the aortic valve has only two cusps (or flaps) instead of three. This deformity, which is congenital (present at birth) keeps the valve from functioning properly. With age, a bicuspid valve may lead to additional heart conditions including:
Bicuspid aortic valve occurs in 2 percent of the population. It can run in families and is found in up to 15 percent of first-degree relatives of people with the condition. A bicuspid valve may function for years without causing symptoms or obvious signs of a problem. Early diagnosis can lead to improved long-term outcomes for patients.
Approximately 80 percent of patients with BAVD require valve repair or replacement at some point. Penn’s cardiac surgery and imaging experts monitor your disease regularly with advanced imaging techniques. If there are changes to your valve or aorta, the cardiac team creates an individualized treatment plan.
Our academic surgeons treat BAVD and associated aortic aneurysm disease with procedures including: