New Innovative Treatment Option for People With Tricuspid Regurgitation 

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL-December 20^th, 2024 –Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center is the first hospital between Orlando and northern Palm Beach County to perform an Abbott TriClip™ transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER). This is a minimally invasive therapy that treats patients with a leaky tricuspid valve, a condition known as tricuspid regurgitation (TR), without the need for open-heart surgery. TriClip is a first-of-its-kind therapy that repairs the tricuspid valve in patients and is backed by data demonstrating safety, effectiveness and quality-of-life benefits.  The procedure was completed by structural cardiologist, Dr. Augusto Villa.

TriClip is delivered to the heart via a catheter inserted through the femoral vein in the leg and works by clipping together a portion of the leaflets of the tricuspid valve to reduce the backflow of blood. Designed specifically for the right side of the heart and the tricuspid valve’s complex anatomy, the innovative TriClip and steerable guiding catheter systems allow physicians to independently grasp and effectively clip leaflets of the tricuspid valve to reduce the regurgitation. This minimally invasive approach allows the heart to pump blood more efficiently and relieve symptoms of TR, which improves the quality of life for patients. 

“From being the first hospital in the county to perform open heart surgery, to utilizing some of the latest medical technology, this continues our tradition of specializing in heart treatment,” said Palm Beach Gardens Medial Center CEO, Erik Cazares.  “We put patients first, that’s why we are investing in devices like the TriClip, to make sure every patient can have the best opportunity at a positive outcome, so they can get back to doing what they love.”

Tricuspid valve regurgitation is a condition in which the valve between the two right heart chambers (right ventricle and right atrium) don’t close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the right atrium of the heart. The disease is often debilitating, causing symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue, and when left untreated, may progress into conditions such as atrial fibrillation (AF), heart failure and, ultimately death. Traditionally, the only treatment options for TR have been surgery, which is rarely performed due to the complexity of the procedure and high risks involved, and medical therapy, which is usually not successful in reducing TR. Abbott’s TriClip device provides a much-needed treatment option for people suffering from this condition.

Abbott recently announced that the TriClip TEER system received FDA approval.

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