Kay Hiatt, a retired nurse from Mount Airy, recently became the first patient at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center to benefit from a brand-new procedure to treat her malfunctioning tricuspid valve, one of four valves that control blood flow to and from the heart.
Hiatt knew something was wrong when she started to experience shortness of breath during normal everyday activities. She could no longer cook dinner, take a shower or even walk across the parking lot at church without having to rest. So, she stopped going. As a nurse, she knew something wasn’t right and decided to ask for help.
Dr. Charles Harris at Novant Health Cardiology - Kimel Park did an echocardiogram and confirmed that her leaking valve was to blame. The tricuspid valve is often referred to as the “forgotten valve” because unlike the other three heart valves (aortic, mitral and pulmonary), it is difficult to scan with imaging technology and reach with surgery. In fact, open heart surgery was the only option – until now.
Harris referred Hiatt to Dr. Sam Turner and Dr. Robert Preli, interventional cardiologists at Novant Health, to be evaluated for a new, less invasive transcatheter procedure that was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2024.
Interventional cardiologists specialize in treating heart problems using smaller tools rather than performing open-heart surgery. The procedures they perform use much smaller incisions than traditional surgery. That means less pain, a faster recovery and a lower risk of complications.
Exceptional cardiovascular care.
How it works
The tricuspid valve has three flaps, known as leaflets, that open and close in unison. However, if one of the leaflets stops lining up correctly with each closure, a gap can form and cause blood to leak or flow backward into vital organs, like the liver and intestines.
“Tricuspid valve issues are concerning because patients can usually live with their symptoms for a long time before serious complications start to develop,” said Preli. “While medication can help manage these symptoms, tricuspid valve patients are at an increased risk for pulmonary hypertension, atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure.”
Now, there is a procedure that allows interventional cardiologists to insert a catheter through the femoral artery (groin) and up to the heart. Once it reaches the tricuspid valve, this device can deploy a clip to help reconnect the leaking leaflet, effectively correcting the problem and substantially reducing the risk of regurgitation and other symptoms.
“The best part is that we know right away if the procedure worked,” said Preli. “It’s extremely gratifying for everyone on our care team to be able to bring a brand-new heart procedure to our patients here in the Triad.”
Hiatt noticed improvements with her general well-being, enhanced stamina and reduced shortness of breath. She is also looking forward to going back to church on Sundays.
Bringing new treatments to life with clinical research
Clinical research is needed before any new treatment option can receive FDA approval.
Dr. Oluseun Alli at the Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute in Charlotte actually served as the principal investigator, overseeing research for this new tricuspid valve medical device at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center.
“Patients no longer need to travel to huge academic medical centers to receive high quality heart care,” said Alli. “At Novant Health, we’re committed to bringing expert care close to home. This includes offering our patients the opportunity to participate in clinical research opportunities that help to spearhead the future of medicine.”
Novant Health is a leader in clinical research. Nearly 1,500 North Carolinians are involved in more than 300 clinical trials at Novant Health facilities across North Carolina.
Intrigued? Look up Novant Health’s clinical trials here and talk with your physician to see if one is right for you.
