Ryan Karl Kaple, MD

Ryan K. Kaple, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, is a board-certified interventional cardiologist who specializes in heart valve disease and other complex structural heart conditions. He serves as the Director of the Structural & Congenital Heart Program at Hackensack University Medical Center, part of Hackensack Meridian Health.

Dr. Kaple is an expert in minimally invasive heart procedures that help patients avoid traditional open-heart surgery. He is nationally and internationally recognized for his work with Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) and minimally invasive mitral and tricuspid valve repair and replacement (utilizing devices such as MitraClip®, TriClip®, Pascal® and EVOQUE®).

These advanced treatments are used to help patients with:

• Aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve)

• Mitral regurgitation (leaky mitral valve)

• Tricuspid valve regurgitation (leaky tricuspid valve)

• Heart failure caused by valve problems

• Shortness of breath, fatigue, or chest pain related to valve issues

Before joining Hackensack Meridian Health, Dr. Kaple served as Director of Mitral and Tricuspid Valve Therapies and the Structural Heart Disease Fellowship Program at the Yale School of Medicine, where he was also an Assistant Professor of Medicine. He also led the VA Connecticut Structural Heart Disease Program. During his time in Connecticut, he trained future cardiologists and served as principal and co-investigator in numerous clinical trials aimed at improving outcomes for heart valve patients.

His approach to care is centered on precision, teamwork, and compassion. Dr. Kaple works with a multidisciplinary team of heart specialists to create personalized treatment plans that help patients recover faster, feel better sooner, and live longer.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Kaple enjoys coaching his son’s baseball team, hiking, camping, and cycling.

Procedures and Services

• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

• Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) of the mitral valve MitraClip®, Pascal®

• Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) of the tricuspid valve (TriClip®) 

• Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement (TTVR) (EVOQUE®)

• Balloon aortic and mitral valvuloplasty

• Cardiac catheterization

• Remote pulmonary artery pressure monitoring (CardioMems®)

• Minimally invasive heart procedures

• Second opinions for valve disease

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is structural heart disease?
A: Structural heart disease includes problems with the valves, walls, or chambers of the heart—some arepresent at birth but the most common abnormalities developed with age. Dr. Kaple treats these issues using advanced, less invasive procedures.

Q: Am I a candidate for TAVR or TEER?
A: Many patients who are not ideal candidates for open-heart surgery due to age or health conditions may qualify for TAVR or TEER. Dr. Kaple can evaluate your case and walk you through your options.

Q: What’s the difference between TAVR and open-heart valve surgery?
A: TAVR is done through a small catheter, most often through the artery over the hip bone, with no chest incision. It usually means a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery than traditional surgery.

Q: How long is the recovery after minimally invasive valve procedures?
A: Most patients go home within 1day and return to normal activities much faster compared to traditional surgery.

Q: What are the symptoms of heart valve disease?
A: Common symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, lightheadedness, and swelling in the legs or ankles. If you're experiencing these, it’s important to get evaluated.

Q: Is there a non-surgical treatment for aortic stenosis?
A: Yes. Dr. Kaple specializes in TAVR, a minimally invasive procedure to replace the aortic valve without open-heart surgery.

Q: How do I know if I need my heart valve repaired or replaced?
A: Dr. Kaple will use imaging tests and clinical evaluation to determine the severity of your condition and recommend the best treatment—repair when possible, replacement when necessary.

Q: Can I get a second opinion from Dr. Kaple?
A: Yes. Dr. Kaple provides second opinions for patients diagnosed with structural heart disease or those exploring less invasive treatment options.

Q: Where does Dr. Ryan Kaple see patients?

A: Dr. Kaple sees patients at Hackensack University Medical Center, located at 30 Prospect Avenue in Hackensack, New Jersey.

Learn more about our practice.

• HMH - Cardiac Surgery - Hackensack