Bryan Heart and Bryan Medical Center First in the State to Offer New Tricuspid Regurgitation (TR) Treatment
Written by John Steuter, MD, FACC
Many individuals live with tricuspid regurgitation (TR) which is caused by a leaky tricuspid valve. TR is a condition in which the valve between the two right heart chambers (right ventricle and right atrium) doesn’t close properly, resulting in a backward flow of blood into the right atrium of the heart.
Historically, TR has had limited treatment options due to the location of the tricuspid valve within the heart as well as the restrictions placed on individuals who suffer from TR. Because of these factors, the tricuspid valve has often been referred to as the “forgotten valve”. TR typically impacts older individuals who have multiple co-morbidities, making open-heart surgery a high-risk procedure resulting in many people leaving it undertreated and/or untreated. The consequences of leaving TR unaddressed can be substantial – people often develop other conditions such as heart failure that can ultimately, result in death.
The TriClip™ is a first of its kind, minimally invasive clip-based device that is specially designed for the complex anatomy of the tricuspid valve. The TriClip™ is a non-surgical option that provides significant improvement in TR and has proven safety for patients who aren’t responding to medical therapy or who are not surgical candidates. The device is delivered through the femoral vein and works by clipping together a portion of the leaflets of the tricuspid valve that aren’t working properly to reduce the amount of blood flowing backward into the heart.
Bryan Heart Cardiologists and the Bryan Medical Center Cath Lab Team were the first in the state of Nebraska to perform this procedure on Monday, October 28, 2024, and are currently the only program in the state actively performing the TriClip™ procedure.
With the innovative technology of the TriClip™ device, Bryan Heart Physicians have a safe, minimally invasive treatment option for patients in need of a tricuspid valve repair which can reduce TR symptoms and improve the quality of life for our patients and their families.
For more information, please contact our office at 402-483-3333.
