Bryan Heart Offers Revolutionary Treatment for Tricuspid Regurgitation
Bryan Heart is offering patients a revolutionary new treatment for tricuspid regurgitation (TR), a heart valve disease that affects roughly 20% of people in the United States. The TriClip procedure provides a safe, minimally invasive solution to provide real, lasting improvements in patients with the disease.
TR is a condition in which the tricuspid valve between the heart’s right atrium and right ventricle does not close properly, causing blood to flow backward into the right atrium. This reduces blood flow to the lungs, which forces the heart to work harder to pump blood. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling. Over time, it can lead to more serious health complications, including heart failure.
'Forgotten Valve'
For many years, TR has been referred to as the “forgotten valve.” The condition often is underdiagnosed and undertreated, due to the complexity of the valve’s location and the health risks posed by traditional open-heart surgery to fix the issue, particularly in patients with many health conditions. Now, Bryan Heart is offering a solution to change the landscape of care for patients with the disease.
The TriClip is a minimally invasive device that treats TR by improving the function of the tricuspid valve. Unlike open-heart surgery, the TriClip procedure delivers the device through the femoral vein in the leg. It’s then placed in the heart, where it clips together the faulty leaflets of the tricuspid valve to reduce the backward flood of blood. The procedure provides significant relief to patients, relieving symptoms and promoting a quicker recovery time.
“This new, minimally invasive treatment is a boon to our patients, getting them back to doing the things they love to do,” said Dr. Matt Johnson, executive medical director, Bryan Heart. “One of the most rewarding aspects of being a physician is seeing results in studies transferred to real-life success in our patients, like Joann.”
'Life-Changing'
Joann Sieck is from Pleasant Dale, just west of Lincoln. She was the first patient to undergo the TriClip procedure at Bryan Heart in late October. Dr. Johnson implanted the device in a 30-minute procedure. Since then, a handful of other patients have been successfully treated with the TriClip at Bryan Heart.
Sieck had experienced issues with her tricuspid valve for over a decade. She was constantly short of breath and struggled to do simple things like walk upstairs or carry groceries. Now, she’s able to do those activities without issue. Additionally, Sieck felt the results of the surgery almost immediately. She spent one night in the hospital, was discharged the next day and cooked supper for her husband that same evening.
“When you’re sick, you don’t know how bad you really feel until you get better. That’s where I was at,” she said. “I’m still so amazed at how good I feel. Before, I would get up in the morning and focus on what I couldn’t do. Now, I wake up and look forward to all the things I’m going to do. It’s been life-changing."
