Understand the valve.
Then the whole decision.

A second opinion can be useful when valve intervention has been proposed; when the diagnosis, severity, timing, or mechanism remains unclear; when you want to understand repair versus replacement, surgery versus a catheter procedure, or mechanical versus tissue valves; or when another heart problem may change the plan. It should not delay urgent or time-sensitive care directed by your treating clinicians.

The review can address aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valve disease, including stenosis, regurgitation, mixed disease, prior valve procedures, and cases involving more than one valve. The exact analysis depends on the complete medical record and the decision that is actually in front of you.

The report can organize and explain the severity documented in your records, including relevant echocardiographic measurements, symptoms, ventricular response, chamber changes, pulmonary pressure, and serial progression. It does not perform a new diagnostic examination or replace interpretation by the clinicians responsible for your care. Missing or conflicting data are identified for discussion with them.

Not for every valve or every anatomy. Repair may preserve native tissue and avoid a prosthesis in selected cases, but the likelihood and durability of a successful repair depend on the valve, mechanism, tissue, ventricular context, and team experience. Replacement may be more predictable or necessary in other cases. The report explains which questions the available record raises without choosing treatment for you.

It compares only the approaches that are relevant to the documented valve problem and anatomy. TAVR applies to selected aortic-valve cases; TEER applies to selected mitral or tricuspid cases; minimally invasive and conventional surgical approaches have different technical requirements. These are not interchangeable menu choices, and some patients need treatment of coronary disease, the aorta, another valve, or a rhythm problem at the same time.

When valve replacement is a relevant path, the report can organize the trade-offs between mechanical and tissue prostheses. These may include durability, lifelong anticoagulation, bleeding and clotting considerations, age and expected longevity, pregnancy plans when relevant, lifestyle, valve position, and possible future procedures. The final prosthesis choice belongs with you and your treating team.

Yes. The review can consider a prior repair, surgical valve, transcatheter valve, annuloplasty ring, or other cardiac procedure. Prior operative reports, implant details, current imaging, symptoms, and the new proposed plan become especially important because redo surgery, valve-in-valve treatment, another catheter procedure, and surveillance each have case-specific limits.

When applicable, the review may consider STS PROM, EuroSCORE II, and an AATS risk tool separately rather than treating them as interchangeable. Each tool has a defined population, required inputs, and limitations. The report makes available inputs and missing information visible; a risk model is one part of the decision and cannot predict an individual outcome.

The required record depends on the valve and proposed treatment. It commonly includes echocardiogram images and reports, recent clinical and procedural notes, CT imaging when relevant, catheterization or coronary assessment, prior operative reports and implant details, laboratory results, medication history, and the proposed plan. With authorization, the records team can help identify and request what is needed.

A cardiac surgeon and cardiologist independently review the same complete record, then confer and co-sign one WHITEGLOVE Insights™ report. The surgeon contributes the operative, repair, prosthesis, and technical perspective; the cardiologist contributes the imaging, longitudinal, rhythm, medication, and catheter-based perspective. Both reviews are included at every service level.

The written report is delivered within 24 hours after the records and imaging required for your review have been received and confirmed complete. Time spent identifying, requesting, transferring, or collecting records is outside that 24-hour window. Do not delay urgent or time-sensitive care while waiting for a second opinion.

The written WHITEGLOVE Insights™ review starts at $495 and includes independent review by a cardiac surgeon and cardiologist, their conference, and one co-signed report. Live physician consultation and concierge support are optional at higher service levels. The service is direct pay, and WHITEGLOVEMD does not submit an insurance claim.

The report may organize procedure-specific public outcomes, reported experience, capabilities, geography, and practical fit when those considerations are relevant and verifiable. WHITEGLOVEMD does not promise access, outcomes, affiliation, or endorsement. If you want help reaching another team, ask the care coordinator what transfer assistance may be available for your situation.

No. WHITEGLOVEMD provides independent educational decision support and medical-record review. It does not diagnose, prescribe, select a treatment, perform procedures, provide emergency care, establish a treating physician–patient relationship, or replace the clinicians responsible for your care.