Advocate Lutheran General Hospital performs new tricuspid valve clip procedure

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge recently performed its first tricuspid valve clip repair, a new minimally invasive approach to treating a leaky tricuspid valve.

Also known as tricuspid regurgitation, the condition occurs when the valve between the two right heart chambers doesn’t close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the right atrium. A leaky tricuspid valve can lead to shortness of breath and cause fluid to collect in the abdomen or legs, often resulting in swelling.

With the tricuspid clip procedure, physicians insert a catheter through a vein in the leg and maneuver up to the heart, where a device is clipped onto the tricuspid valve to reduce the backflow of blood. The first-of-its-kind device recently received FDA approval and is designed specifically for the right side of the heart.

The technique allows the heart to pump blood more efficiently, relieving symptoms and reducing the risk of future heart complications, says interventional cardiologist Dr. Neal Sawlani, who performed the procedure at Advocate Lutheran General — the first in Advocate Health’s Midwest region.

“The tricuspid clip procedure is lower risk and has a shorter recovery time compared to traditional open-heart surgery, which is the only other treatment option for this condition,” Dr. Sawlani says. “It’s a safe, effective alternative for repairing the damaged valve and improving the quality of life for many of these patients.”

Learn more about Advocate's leading-edge cardiac care at advocatehealth.com/health-services/advocate-heart-institute.