The Valley Hospital recently completed its first implant of the Evoque tricuspid valve replacement system, manufactured by Edwards Lifesciences, which was approved by the Food & Drug Administration in February 2024.
The Evoque system is the first transcatheter therapy approved for the treatment of severe symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation (TR). This is a condition in which the valve between the two right heart chambers – the right ventricle and right atrium – do not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the right atrium of the heart. This debilitating condition can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue. If untreated, it may lead to more serious conditions such as atrial fibrillation, an irregular rapid heart rate; heart failure, a chronic condition where the heart does not pump properly; or sudden cardiac death.
The implant was performed at The Valley Hospital by the structural heart team, utilizing a minimally invasive transfemoral technique – accessing the valve via the femoral artery. The Evoque system is designed to replace the native tricuspid valve, reducing or eliminating regurgitation and significantly improving patient symptoms.
“The Evoque system provides a new treatment option that can improve symptoms and quality of life for patients who previously had limited treatment options,” said Rajiv Tayal, MD, director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Structural Heart Program at The Valley Hospital.
The FDA’s approval of the system follows the successful results of the TRISCEND II pivotal trial, which demonstrated that the Evoque system significantly reduced or eliminated tricuspid regurgitation and improved patients’ quality of life.
Edwards Lifesciences is a medical technology company based in Irvine, Calif., specializing in artificial heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring.
