Ask Dr. DiChiacchio: Heart Valve Surgery After A Heart Transplant

Heart valve disease is uncommon after a successful heart transplant, but certain valve problems can still develop. In this video, Dr. Laura DiChiacchio, a cardiac surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, explains that disease of the aortic and mitral valves is rare in transplanted hearts. However, the tricuspid valve may be more vulnerable because the wires and catheters used during routine biopsies and rejection monitoring must repeatedly cross the valve, which can sometimes cause it to leak.

Dr. DiChiacchio also discusses how significant tricuspid valve leakage may be treated after heart transplantation. Depending on the patient and the severity of the condition, treatment may include a transcatheter procedure or another operation to repair or replace the valve. She shares that patients who require tricuspid valve repair after transplantation can achieve very good outcomes, offering reassurance that effective treatment options are available when valve complications occur. (Video posted on July 16, 2026)