Minimally Invasive Tricuspid Valve Procedures

Tricuspid Valve Care at UVM Health

If you have been diagnosed with heart valve disease, non-surgical procedures can help improve your quality of life.

Catheter-based procedures, such as tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER) or transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) reduce tricuspid valve leakage by partially closing the valve with a clip or replacing the valve through the blood vessel. T-TEER and TTVR have been demonstrated to substantially improve quality of life and symptoms in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and heart failure.

Why Choose UVM Health?

Heart and vascular specialists at University of Vermont Health are experts in performing non-surgical procedures in patients across Vermont and northern New York.

As one of the leading heart and vascular programs in the region, we offer:

Excellent outcomes: Our cardiology teams track all patient outcomes in national databases, and our results consistently meet and even exceed national benchmarks.
Academic emphasis: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physicians are active researchers and have trained at some of the most prestigious institutions in the nation. We participate in many multicenter clinical trials of novel device therapies for valvular heart disease.
Patient-centered care: Exceptional care takes more than advanced technology — it also requires a team of skilled and compassionate experts who understand how and when to use that technology to find the treatment that’s right for you and your needs.

Conditions We Treat

Tricuspid valve regurgitation: Tricuspid valve regurgitation occurs when the tricuspid valve doesn't close properly. As a result, blood leaks from the lower right chamber (right ventricle) into the upper right chamber of the heart (right atrium).
Tricuspid valve stenosis: Tricuspid valve stenosis occurs when the tricuspid valve doesn't open properly. As a result, blood backs up in the upper right chamber of the heart (right atrium) and the body.

Tricuspid Valve Treatment

Not all patients are eligible for minimally invasive procedures. To qualify, you must be:

Experiencing symptoms, such as fatigue and shortness of breath, that are adversely affecting your quality of life and/or could lead to a heart attack or heart failure
On optimal medical therapy (OMT)

Tricuspid Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (T-TEER)

Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) of the tricuspid valve reduces mitral valve leakage by using one or more clips (TriClip™) that resemble a small clothespin to hold the valve partially closed.

In this procedure, your cardiologist:

Places a percutaneous catheter (a long, thin tube inserted through your skin) into a blood vessel in your groin. This catheter holds a clip. Your cardiologist moves the catheter through the blood vessel until it reaches your heart.
Pinch parts of the loose valve together with the clip, through the catheter. This tightens the valve, but because it leaves gaps on either side of the clip, it does not completely stop leakage.
Ensures optimal placement, using echocardiography (ultrasound imaging). They will watch how the blood flows during each heartbeat to determine if the clip has stopped enough leakage. If it hasn’t, they will reposition the clip or add another.

Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement (TTVR)

Transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) is a procedure to replace the tricuspid valve without open heart surgery. In the procedure, physicians use a transcatheter heart valve (Evoque) inside the diseased tricuspid valve to eliminate tricuspid valve leakage.

In this procedure, your cardiologist:

Places a percutaneous catheter (a long, thin tube inserted through your skin) into a blood vessel in your groin. This catheter holds the new valve. Your cardiologist moves the catheter through the blood vessel until it reaches your heart.
Delivers the valve delivery system in the appropriate position. Opens the valve to “capture” the tissue of your old valve and then releases the valve.
Ensures optimal placement, using echocardiography (ultrasound imaging). They will watch that the valve is deployed in the correct position and is well seated.

I arrived by wheelchair, and I’m planning on walking out of here today. I can’t believe the difference this has made for me already. It’s a game changer.

Hazel Winter, UVM Health patient