Non-surgical replacement of the valve that separates the right chambers of the heart
If your tricuspid valve needs to be replaced to restore normal blood flow and preserve heart function, your doctor may recommend transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement as an alternative to open-heart surgery. The experts in our Structural Heart and Valvular Disease Program use minimally invasive approaches whenever possible to minimize risk and reduce recovery time for our patients. Our doctors work with you and other surgical teams to determine the best treatment option for your unique condition.
What to expect during transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement
You may be asked not to eat or drink before the procedure. Ask your doctor if you should continue taking any regular medications. An IV will be inserted in your arm to provide sedation, medication, and fluids.
You may be placed under general anesthesia and a thin, flexible tube known as a catheter will be inserted into an artery in your groin or arm. Using X-ray images, your surgeon will guide the catheter to the tricuspid valve.
There are two options for a replacement valve:
Biological valve: A valve made from pig or cow tissue does not require blood thinning medications, but may need to be replaced when it degenerates.
Mechanical valve: The valve may be made from plastic, carbon or metal and will last longer than a biological valve. They will require blood thinners to reduce the risk of bleeding and stroke .
The valve will be carried by the catheter and placed using a balloon that presses the valve into place. The catheter is then removed and you are taken to the recovery area. You will be monitored for several days in the hospital.
Conditions
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Tricuspid stenosis: Tricuspid stenosis is a narrowing of the heart’s tricuspid valve, which limits the flow of blood through the heart.
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Tricuspid valve disease: Tricuspid valve disease refers to several diseases of the heart’s tricuspid valve, through which blood passes as it travels from the heart’s right atrium to the right ventricle.
Tests
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Cardiac catheterization: Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat a variety of heart and vascular conditions by guiding thin, flexible tubes called catheters through blood vessels to problem areas.
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Chest X-ray: Chest X-rays use a small dose of radiation to create pictures of the structures inside the chest, including the lungs, heart, and chest wall.
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Echocardiogram: An echocardiogram uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your heart.
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Electrocardiogram (ECG): An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, measures the heart’s electrical activity.
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Magnetic resonance imaging, better known as cardiac MRI, is a combination of radio waves, magnets, and computer technology to create images of your heart and blood vessels.
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Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE): Transesophageal echocardiogram allows us to take very detailed images of your heart structure from a probe in your esophagus.
Our providers
Location: Change location Enter your location
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Ammar S Bafi, MD
Valvular Disease Cardiology, Structural Heart Disease Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery
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Cierra Bruck, PA-C
Cardiac Surgery
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Ashley Chenoweth, AGACNP-BC
Cardiac Surgery
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John V Conte, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Laura Lee Cramer-Joyce, ANP-BC
Cardiac Surgery
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Susan L. Davis, ACNP-BC
Cardiac Surgery
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Jonathan R. Gower, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery
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Carolin Hanna, AGACNP-BC
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Rachel E Harrison, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Maria Gina Heyrana
Cardiac Surgery
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Yuji Kawano, MD
Cardiac Surgery
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Kathleen J. Lavery, ACNP-BC, MSN, APRN
Cardiac Surgery
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Nicole M Monte-Bovi, AGACNP-BC
Cardiac Surgery
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Susan Thornton Oyola, AGACNP-BC
Cardiac Surgery
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Christian Charles Shults, MD
Valvular Disease Cardiology, Structural Heart Disease Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery
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Elizabeth C. Sullivan, ANP-BC, CRNP
Cardiac Surgery
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Our locations
Distance from Change locationEnter your location
MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
201 E. University Pkwy. Baltimore, MD 21218
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving St. NW Washington, DC 20010
Additional information
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Ask MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute
Have general questions for our heart and vascular program? Email us at AskMHVI@medstar.net. If you have clinically-specific questions, please contact your physician’s office.