Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Repair (TTVR)

Minimally Invasive Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation Treatment in Central Massachusetts and Beyond

TTVR offers a solution for patients who are not candidates for open-heart surgery, providing relief from
symptoms caused by tricuspid regurgitation. Interventional cardiologists at UMass Memorial Health are
highly skilled and can help you decide if TTVR is the best option for you to improve your quality of life.

What Is Tricuspid Regurgitation (TR)?

TR is a condition where the tricuspid valve, located between the right atrium and right ventricle of the
heart, does not close properly. When this happens, blood flows backward into the right atrium when the
right ventricle contracts. This backward flow of blood can lead to symptoms, such as shortness of
breath, fatigue, and swelling in the legs and abdomen. If left untreated, tricuspid regurgitation can
progress to more severe conditions like atrial fibrillation and heart failure.

Learn about heart anatomy and how valves work.

More than 1.6 million people in the U.S. are affected by tricuspid regurgitation, which can severely
impact quality of life.

What to Expect During TTVR with TriClip

Our team performs the repair in our state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization lab. The TriClip
transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) system is used during TTVR to repair the tricuspid valve.
The procedure takes about three hours, and most people go home the next day.

During the procedure, your doctor: 

• Makes a small cut in your upper leg
• Inserts a catheter (thin tube) into a blood vessel
• Guides the catheter to your heart
• Using the TriClip device, clips a portion of the tricuspid valve leaflets (flaps that make up the
  valve) together, reducing the backflow of blood
• Removes the device and closes the incision

This minimally invasive approach allows the heart to pump blood more efficiently and alleviates
symptoms.

Benefits of TTVR

• Avoids the need for open-heart surgery
• Shorter hospital stay and faster recovery time
• Symptom relief
• Improved energy and well-being