Adventist Health Glendale Among First in California to Successfully Implant Newly Approved, Life-Saving Triclip Heart Device

TriClip System offers innovative treatment option for patients with tricuspid regurgitation

On Thursday, May 16, 2024, interventional cardiology specialists at Adventist Health Glendale successfully performed their first TriClip procedures using the Abbott TriClip transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) system.

The TriClip is the first device to repair a leaky tricuspid valve, known as tricuspid regurgitation or “TR”, a disease in which blood leaks backward through the tricuspid heart valve. It affects 1.6 million people in the United States. Symptoms include swelling, fatigue, and atypical heart rhythms. In severe cases, TR can lead to heart failure.

The adoption of TriClip technology into our cardiology service offerings marks another significant leading advancement for Adventist Health Glendale and our community. Recently approved by the FDA, this cutting-edge innovation in interventional cardiology underscores our commitment to leading the forefront of medical advancements," stated Dr. Kingman Ho, Chief Medical Officer at Adventist Health Glendale. "This milestone reflects the exceptional capabilities of our comprehensive cardiology program and the distinguished expertise of our physicians, further solidifying our position as one of Southern California's premier cardiovascular centers.”

Dr. Harry Balian, Medical Director of the Adventist Health Glendale’s Cardiovascular Services, and Dr. Amir Solhpour, Medical Director of the hospital’s Structural Heart Program, performed two successful TriClip procedures on Thursday morning. Adventist Health Glendale is one of only four Southland hospitals to complete TriClip procedures since the device was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in April of 2024.

Dr. Armand Rostamian, a cardiologist specializing in echocardiography, also known as cardiac ultrasound, oversaw the imaging that guided Drs. Balian and Solhpour during the inaugural TriClip procedures. The surgeons were assisted by a team of cardiovascular specialty technicians and nurses in Adventist Health Glendale’s award-winning cardiac catheterization laboratory or “cath lab,” one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery, according to Healthgrades.

In introducing TriClip capability, Adventist Health Glendale bolstered its Cardiovascular Program, which already features a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic services, including other structural heart procedures like TAVR, Watchman, and MitraClip. Thursday's inaugural TriClip procedures come precisely one week after Dr. Balian completed the hospital’s 200th MitraClip case, a similar, minimally invasive procedure to implant a clip in the mitral valve between the heart’s left atrium and left ventricle. Adventist Health Glendale reached the impressive milestone in four years, after Dr. Solhpour performed the hospital’s first MitraClip procedure in May of 2020.

"TR is a life-threatening condition that, until now, would have required complex, open-heart surgery. The TripClip technology offers a minimally invasive treatment option for patients needing tricuspid valve repair without the inherent risks of an open-heart procedure," explained Dr. Solhpour. "We're extremely proud to be among the first in California to offer this innovative treatment option for our patients, particularly our older patients at risk of heart failure."

The TriClip device is delivered to the heart via a catheter inserted through the femoral vein in the leg. It 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

TriClip and steerable guiding catheter systems allow physicians to independently grasp and effectively clip leaflets of the tricuspid valve to reduce regurgitation.

This minimally invasive approach allows the heart to pump blood more efficiently and relieve symptoms of TR, improving patients' quality of life. The procedure can be completed in one to two hours, and patients are typically discharged home the next day.

Tricuspid valve regurgitation is a condition in which the valve between the two right heart chambers (right ventricle and right atrium) doesn't close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the heart's right atrium. 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), and heart failure.

Traditionally, the only treatment options for TR have been surgery, which is rarely performed due to the complexity of the procedure and the high risks involved, and medical therapy, which is usually not successful in reducing TR symptoms. The TriClip device provides a much-needed treatment option for people suffering from this condition.