Cedars-Sinai Interventionalists Have Performed More Than 100 Minimally Invasive Tricuspid Valve Replacements, Including the First After Recent FDA Approval
Physicians in the聽聽at Cedars-Sinai have achieved two significant firsts: completing the institute鈥檚 100th聽minimally invasive tricuspid valve replacement and performing the first-ever implantation of a new bioprosthetic tricuspid valve following its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The first 100 minimally invasive tricuspid procedures were done as part of聽the聽TRISCEND II clinical trial. The trial studied replacing a聽malfunctioning聽tricuspid valve with a bioprosthetic valve to treat patients with tricuspid regurgitation,聽a condition in which the heart鈥檚 tricuspid valve does not close tightly, causing blood to leak backward from the heart into the veins of the body.
Eduardo Marb谩n, MD, PhD
The tricuspid valve has historically been the most challenging of the heart鈥檚 four valves to treat because of its location in the back of the heart.
鈥淭he Smidt Heart Institute is the only institution to have completed this many minimally invasive tricuspid valve聽replacement聽procedures, bringing extensive expertise and new options to patients impacted by tricuspid valve disease,鈥� said聽, executive director of the Smidt Heart Institute and the聽Mark S. Siegel Family Foundation Distinguished Professor. 鈥淭his impressive feat is a testament to our team鈥檚 skill in difficult-to-treat valvular conditions.鈥�
, associate director of the Smidt Heart Institute and vice president of Cardiovascular Innovation and Intervention for Cedars-Sinai,聽was the principal investigator for the聽TRISCEND II聽trial at Cedars-Sinai.
Raj Makkar, MD
During a minimally invasive tricuspid valve replacement procedure, an interventionalist threads a thin, flexible tube called a catheter through a vein to reach the tricuspid valve.聽Early results of the trial led to the FDA approving the聽Edwards EVOQUE Tricuspid Valve Replacement System to treat聽eligible聽patients with tricuspid regurgitation.
Makkar led the Smidt Heart Institute team that performed the first EVOQUE implantation following FDA approval and聽has聽the most extensive聽experience globally in this groundbreaking procedure.
鈥淲e are proud and humbled to be the first in the U.S. to have implanted the world鈥檚 first commercially available transcatheter tricuspid valve,鈥� said Makkar, the聽Stephen R. Corday, MD, Chair in Interventional Cardiology. 鈥淚t is moments like this that further our dedication, commitment and passion to the field of interventional cardiology.鈥�
The heart has four valves (aortic, mitral, pulmonic, and tricuspid) that open and close to move blood through the heart and to the rest of the body. If a valve cannot open or close fully it can interfere with blood flow and cause a host of health issues, including heart attack and stroke.
Christine M. Albert, MD, MPH
Moderate and severe tricuspid disease is common in the U.S. and affects an estimated 1.6 million people.聽Some people can manage their valvular heart disease with medications, but others need to have the damaged valve repaired or replaced.
The tricuspid valve is typically replaced during open-heart surgery. In contrast, the catheter-based approach used at Cedars-Sinai involves a tiny incision and patients typically go home the same day.
"The transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement system is a game-changer for patients with tricuspid regurgitation, a condition that has traditionally been overlooked," said聽, chair of the Department of Cardiology in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai. 鈥淲e are proud to be the center with the most experience in transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement, demonstrating our commitment to pioneering new treatments and expanding options for those impacted by tricuspid valve disease.鈥�
For more information, please email heartinstitute@cshs.org
