On Aug. 9, Joseph Choo, MD and Richard Han, MD, along with the CAMC cardiac imaging team, performed the first tricuspid valve repair in West Virginia, using the minimally invasive technique, TriClip™ transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) system.
The tricuspid valve is one of four valves that control blood flow through the heart. People suffering from tricuspid regurgitation, or a leaky tricuspid valve, have a heart valve that doesn't close properly, causing a leak and allowing blood to flow backward in the heart. This can force the heart to work harder, causing debilitating symptoms such as swelling, fatigue and shortness of breath. TriClip™ (TEER) procedure gives patients an option without a high-risk, open-heart surgery.
Delivered through a vein in the leg, TriClip™ TEER technology works by clipping together a portion of the leaflets – or flaps of tissue – to repair the tricuspid valve and help blood flow in the right direction.
“This is a groundbreaking procedure for patients who have this complex heart condition. Providing them with a better quality of life with this option is incredible. We are thrilled to have it right here at CAMC,” said Joseph Choo, MD, Cardiologist at CAMC.
Pictured above: TriClip™ Transcatheter Edge-toEdge Repair System
