First Minimally Invasive Tricuspid Valve Replacement in Capital Region
Interventional cardiologists at Albany Medical Center have performed the Capital Region’s first implantation of a minimally invasive tricuspid valve replacement system.
The EVOQUE Tricuspid Valve Replacement System from Edwards Lifesciences represents a major advancement for patients with severe symptomatic tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR), a condition historically considered difficult to treat. The tricuspid valve, located between the right atrium and right ventricle, may fail to close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the right atrium. This regurgitation places strain on the heart and can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, swelling in the abdomen and ankles, and if left untreated, can progress to heart failure or even sudden cardiac death.
“Many patients with severe tricuspid valve regurgitation are considered inoperable due to the high risk of traditional open-heart surgery,” said Mohammad El-Hajjar, MD, director of Albany Medical Center’s Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. “The addition of this therapy demonstrates our commitment to offering the most advanced, comprehensive, patient-centered cardiac care and further positions the Albany Med Health System as the premier cardiovascular program in the region.”
Unlike traditional open-heart surgery, the EVOQUE valve is delivered via the femoral vein in the groin. Once positioned, the device made from bovine (cow) heart tissue expands and anchors securely within the native valve, eliminating the backflow of blood into the heart. This minimally invasive approach results in shorter hospital stays and faster recoveries with improved quality of life.
The first two procedures were performed at Albany Medical Center in October by Dr. El-Hajjar and Augustin DeLago, MD, interventional cardiologist with Capital Cardiology Associates.
Collaboration is key for the Structural Heart Program at Albany Medical Center. Cardiac physicians, cardiac surgeons, and interventional cardiologists analyze each patient’s specific condition, review imaging, and come together to consider the appropriate treatment plan for that patient.
Albany Medical Center sees a higher volume of structural heart patients than other local institutions and is able to offer a significant amount of treatments for structural heart issues, including: transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), mitral valve clips, mitral replacement, left atrial appendage closure, and other minimally invasive and traditional heart valve replacements.
