(Story courtesy Piedmont Augusta)
Piedmont Heart Augusta has performed the region’s first transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement, expanding its structural heart program and bringing a new, FDA-approved therapy to patients in the Augusta community.
Dr. Charlene Rohm, interventional cardiologist at Piedmont Augusta, performed the procedure using the EVOQUE transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement system from Edwards Lifesciences. The minimally invasive procedure offers a new treatment option for patients with symptomatic, severe tricuspid regurgitation, a heart valve condition that historically has been managed primarily with medical therapy.
“This procedure represents an important advancement for patients in our community,” Rohm said. “Many patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation experience life-limiting symptoms and previously had few treatment options. Offering this therapy locally allows patients to receive advanced care close to home.”
Tricuspid regurgitation occurs when the tricuspid valve does not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward in the heart. The EVOQUE system is the first transcatheter therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for tricuspid valve replacement and is designed to replace the native valve while significantly reducing regurgitation. The device is delivered through a transfemoral approach, avoiding the need for open-heart surgery in appropriate patients.
Approval of the EVOQUE system was based on results from the TRISCEND II randomized clinical trial, which evaluated safety and effectiveness in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation despite optimal medical therapy. Recently presented two-year data from the trial showed sustained reduction of tricuspid regurgitation, improvements in health status and quality of life, and a favorable safety profile.
The procedure marks the latest expansion of Piedmont Heart Augusta’s structural heart program, which offers multidisciplinary care for complex valve disease using advanced transcatheter and minimally invasive approaches.
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