HonorHealth, a health care system serving more than 5 million people in the greater Phoenix and Scottsdale areas, is the first non-clinical trial site to perform the first tricuspid valve replacement in Arizona using the FDA-approved Edwards EVOQUE system. 

The EVOQUE system is the world's first transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement therapy, according to a press release. This technique utilizes a catheter to implant an artificial, self-expanding tricuspid valve to prevent or reduce tricuspid regurgitation, the backflow of blood into the upper right chamber of the heart.

Dr. Haidar Yassin, interventional cardiologist with HonorHealth Heart Care, said in the release that about 1.6 million Americans have moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation, but it can easily be managed when discovered early. 

It’s when it becomes moderate to severe that it can be life limiting and potentially threatening.

“Through this treatment, we can improve quality of life, relieve symptoms such as tiredness, shortness of breath and fatigue,” Yassin said.

Riana Kielly, hospital administrator at HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, also said in the release that this new procedure is the logical next step in continuing to provide complete heart care for their patients.

“These innovative procedures require collaboration between multiple specialists and teams before, during and after the procedure. At HonorHealth, we already have these teams in place,” Kielly said.

Yassin and Dr. Robert Riley, network director and cardiothoracic surgery with HonorHealth Heart Care, were part of the multi-disciplinary team that completed the first procedure at HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center in December.