Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist has completed its first minimally invasive heart procedure to replace the tricuspid valve using new catheter-based technology. This breakthrough, which is a first in the Triad, offers a new option for patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation, a condition that can be difficult to treat and often leaves patients with limited choices. The procedure replaces the tricuspid valve using a catheter guided through a vein rather than requiring openheart surgery.
“This technology represents a major step forward for patients who have long had limited or no treatment options,” said Dr. David Zhao, chair of cardiovascular medicine at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. “By replacing the valve through a catheter without opening the chest, we’re able to help patients feel better faster with far less recovery time.”
While many people are familiar with the aortic and mitral valves, the tricuspid valve is often called the “forgotten valve.” When it fails, blood flows backward into the heart, causing debilitating symptoms such as swelling, fatigue, abdominal discomfort and difficulty breathing.
Untreated tricuspid regurgitation can lead to worsening heart failure and poor quality of life, yet many patients are not candidates for open-heart surgery due to age or other medical conditions.
“Patients can feel the difference once the valve begins working the way it should,” said Dr. DavidTryon, an interventional cardiologist at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist who was involved in the milestone procedure. “Restoring proper blood flow doesn’t just relieve symptoms, it helps patients regain confidence, mobility and a sense of independence they may have lost over time.”
Patients who are treated typically experience:
- Improved energy and breathing
- Reduced swelling in the legs and abdomen
- Better ability to walk and perform daily activities
- Faster recovery compared to traditional surgery
Only select heart centers across the country are trained and equipped to perform percutaneous tricuspid valve replacement.
“This milestone highlights the expertise of our structural heart program and our commitment to bringing leading-edge therapies to the communities we serve,” Zhao said. “It’s a testament to our entire team — from imaging and anesthesia to nursing and advanced practice providers — who made this possible.”
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist continues to expand its portfolio of advanced heart valve treatments and clinical trials, ensuring patients in the region have access to the latest innovations close to home.