Your heart is in good hands at UC Davis Health’s Structural Heart Disease Program. Our highly trained specialists diagnose and treat bicuspid aortic valves using the latest techniques.
Medically reviewed by Mimmie Kwong, M.D. on July 26, 2023.
At UC Davis Health, we specialize in caring for structural heart diseases like BAV. You can rely on our highly trained team to find the right treatment for you, including heart valve repair and replacement.
Your aortic valve allows blood to flow between your heart’s left ventricle and your aorta, which then delivers blood from your heart to the rest of your body.
Your aortic valve typically has three leaflets, or cusps, that open and close to allow your blood to flow normally. People with BAV were born with two leaflets instead of three.
These cusps may cause narrowing, or stenosis, of the valve. Another problem is that your valve may not seal properly, causing your blood to flow backwards. This may reduce blood flow to the rest of your body or cause blood to leak back into your left ventricle.
Symptoms of BAV can be mild or severe.
You may have some of the common symptoms of BAV, including:
You should call 911 immediately if you experience symptoms like:
People with bicuspid aortic valve were born with an abnormal valve that has two leaflets instead of three. BAV is the most common structural heart issue you can be born with.
While we don’t know exactly what causes BAV, we know the risk factors that increase your chance of having BAV, including:
You face a greater risk for BAV if you have a family history of the condition or any aorta-related disease.
Men have a higher risk for BAV than women.
Your physician will start with a thorough physical evaluation. They may ask you about your medical history and symptoms. They may also listen to your heart for abnormal sounds called murmurs.
Your physician may confirm BAV using an echocardiogram. This test creates an image of your heart using high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound).
Your physician may also use imaging tests, such as a CT scan or MRI, to look inside your aortic sinuses.
In addition to these initial diagnostic tests, your physician will check your aortic valve and aorta on an ongoing basis.
Regular evaluations help catch when BAV is causing risky or even life-threatening complications, such as:
Our UC Davis Cardiac Surgery Division uses advanced techniques to provide you with optimal care in the least invasive manner.
Our team will assess the performance of your heart valve and associated structures like your aorta. This assessment helps them figure out which surgical treatment is the best option for you. They then work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan.
Your physician may recommend surgery to replace part of your aorta.
TAVR is an alternative to open heart surgery. It uses a catheter to insert a new aortic valve in your heart.
Your physician may recommend surgery to replace your damaged aortic valve using either a mechanical or tissue valve.
1-2%More common in men
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Valvular Heart Disease
As Sacramento's No. 1 hospital, you'll benefit from unique advantages in primary care and specialty care. This includes prevention, diagnosis and treatment options from experts in 150 specialties.
To refer a patient, you can submit an electronic referral form or call.
For questions and appointment information
A U.S. News & World Report best hospital in cancer, cardiology, heart & vascular surgery, diabetes & endocrinology, ENT, geriatrics, neurology & neurosurgery, orthopedics, and pulmonology & lung surgery.
A U.S. News & World Report best children’s hospital in diabetes & endocrinology, nephrology, and orthopedics*. (*Together with Shriners Children’s)
Ranked Sacramento’s #1 hospital by U.S. News, and high-performing in back surgery, COPD, colon cancer surgery, gynecological cancer surgery, heart attack, heart failure, hip fracture, kidney failure, leukemia, lymphoma & myeloma, lung cancer surgery, pneumonia, prostate cancer surgery, stroke, TAVR, and gastroenterology & GI surgery.
UC Davis Medical Center has received Magnet® recognition, the nation’s highest honor for nursing excellence.
One of ~56 U.S. cancer centers designated “comprehensive” by the National Cancer Institute.
For the 13th consecutive year, UC Davis Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization.