Transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement
When your tricuspid valve, a crucial component of your heart, isn't working properly, it can lead to many health issues, from shortness of breath to swelling, and persistent exhaustion. Left untreated, this condition can severely impact your quality of life.
The experts at HonorHealth Heart Care work collaboratively to provide you with comprehensive care that results in the best possible outcomes. As Arizona’s first non-clinical trial site in Arizona to perform an FDA-approved, minimally invasive tricuspid valve replacement, we’re committed to using the latest technologies and research to deliver top-quality care and help you live longer.
How the tricuspid valve works
The tricuspid valve helps to control blood flow. Two key issues can affect your tricuspid valve: tricuspid regurgitation, where the valve doesn’t close tightly, causing blood to flow backward into the right atrium, and tricuspid stenosis, where the valve narrows, restricting blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
Tricuspid valve disease can be caused by several factors, including:
- Congenital heart defects
- Rheumatic fever
- Heart infections
- Aging
An innovative, less-invasive option
Transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) is a groundbreaking, less-invasive procedure designed to treat tricuspid valve issues. It offers effective treatment without the need for major surgery, helping patients with damaged or malfunctioning valves improve their overall health and well-being, and regain their quality of life.
Here’s how it works:
- Your doctor makes a small cut, usually in your groin, to insert a catheter into a blood vessel and guide it to your heart.
- Using imaging, your doctor places a new valve inside your old tricuspid valve, expanding it to replace the damaged one.
- Since the procedure is less invasive, most patients can go home within a few days and often feel better quickly.
Transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement is especially important if you are at elevated risk for open-heart surgery or if you have health conditions that make traditional surgery too dangerous. This procedure provides a way for these patients to receive treatment without the same level of risk.
The benefits of transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement include being less invasive, resulting in a smaller amount of pain and a shorter recovery time compared to open-heart surgery. Many see their symptoms improve quickly, feeling more energetic and breathing easier. It also offers a lower-risk option for if you can’t undergo major surgery.