Logan Health cardiologists recently completed the state’s first transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) procedure using the EVOQUE Tricuspid Valve Replacement System, expanding minimally invasive treatment options for patients with tricuspid valve disease across Montana.
TTVR is used to treat tricuspid regurgitation, a condition when the heart’s tricuspid valve doesn’t close properly, which causes blood to flow backward. For patients, this can lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling, and can often be mistaken for a normal part of aging. When left untreated, it can progressively worsen and lead to heart failure and other life-threatening complications.
During the procedure, physicians guide a catheter through a vein to the heart, where a replacement valve is delivered and implanted within the existing valve. The new valve begins working immediately to regulate blood flow without the need for open-heart surgery.
The procedure was performed by Logan Health’s structural heart team, led by Dr. Joshua Vogt, interventional cardiologist and structural heart specialist. The team included cardiac surgeons, imaging specialists and cardiovascular support staff.
The EVOQUE Tricuspid Valve Replacement System is the first transcatheter therapy approved in the United States specifically for replacing the tricuspid valve. It is designed for patients who may be at high risk for traditional surgery.
“With EVOQUE tricuspid valve replacement, more patients now have the opportunity to treat their tricuspid valve disease locally,” said Dr. Vogt. “This is an exciting step forward in advanced cardiac care for the Flathead Valley and northwest Montana.”
Tricuspid regurgitation affects millions of people and often goes undiagnosed. With the addition of transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement, Logan Health continues to expand access to advanced heart care for patients in northwest Montana and at outreach locations around the state.
Procedures like TTVR have been made possible thanks to the generosity of community members, including Jim and CK Coles and Bob and Patty Hayes. The Coles family’s initial gift to the Logan Health Foundation, which exceeded $1 million, established the William James Coles Structural Heart Hybrid Surgical Suite at Logan Health Medical Center, named in honor of Jim Coles’ father, who passed away in 1947 from heart valve complications. The Hayes family later contributed to support and expand the program. Since opening in 2016, the hybrid surgical suite has transformed cardiac care for patients requiring advanced procedures.
To support innovative projects like this, please contact the Logan Health Foundation at (406) 751-6930.