Santiago Garcia, MD, interventional cardiologist and Director of the Structural Heart Program at The Christ Hospital Health Network.

Clinical Trial Shows Promise for Patients Looking to Avoid Open Heart Surgery

Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement (TTVR) Show to Improve Quality of Life

CINCINNATI (November 19, 2024) – A new heart procedure, performed at The Christ Hospital Health Network, looks to give cardiovascular patients a new option for their care. Transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) is a way to take place of a faulty heart valve without open heart surgery.

Certain heart patients suffer from a condition called severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) where one of the heart valves does not close properly. This condition can severely impact patient’s daily lives making simple activities difficult and reducing their quality of life.

“This new, less invasive valve replacement procedure can significantly improve the daily lives of people suffering from severe tricuspid regurgitation,” said Santiago Garcia, MD, interventional cardiologist and Director of the Structural Heart Program at The Christ Hospital Health Network. “Patients who received the procedure were better able to perform daily activities and reported feeling better overall than those who only received regular medical treatment. While our research continues to evolve on the transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement, our talented team at The Christ Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute are doing everything it takes to follow the latest advancements in cardiovascular care.”

As part of the study, 400 patients participated across multiple health networks including The Christ Hospital Health Network. The patients were then divided into two groups, one group that received the new valve with regular medical treatment while the other group just received the medical treatment. The new procedure showed significant improvements in patient’s quality of life as early as 30 days after treatment.

This marks the first transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement device to obtain regulatory approval after showing significant clinical benefits when compared to current standard of care. For more information on the study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, click here.

About The Christ Hospital Health Network

The Christ Hospital Health Network consists of an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn, a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, five ambulatory outpatient centers and dozens of medical offices throughout the region. For more than 130 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves. Made up for more than 1,300 physicians and more than 6,500 team members, our mission is to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional outcomes in an affordable way. The Network was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 hospital in the Cincinnati Region and named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list in 2024.