TriClip

What Is a TriClip?

One treatment option for tricuspid valve regurgitation is inserting a small medical device called a TriClip. This is a minimally invasive procedure done by a cardiologist in the heart catheter lab. It only takes between two and three hours, and most people go home the next day.

What to Expect

You will be under general anesthesia during this procedure and won’t feel any pain.

Your cardiologist will make a small incision in the femoral vein in the groin area at the top of your leg. Then they will carefully guide a long, flexible tube (catheter) up to your heart using ultrasound and X-ray imaging guidance. Your doctor at the University Health Structural Heart and Valve Center will insert the TriClip through this catheter to the leaking part of your tricuspid valve.

The TriClip will grasp and pull the front and back leaflets of your tricuspid valve and clip them together. This helps the valve shut tightly, reduces the amount of blood leaking backwards.

After the procedure, you will recover in the hospital overnight and most patients will be able to go home next day. About one week following the procedure, you will likely be able to resume normal activities.

Who Qualifies for TriClip?

Not everyone qualifies for the TriClip procedure. Your provider may recommend it if you:

• Have severe symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation
• Not an optimal candidate for surgery

Benefits of TriClip

• Minimally invasive
• Small incision compared to open surgery
• Quick recovery
• Positive patient outcomes
• Improved quality of life
• Reduction in symptoms

TriClip in San Antonio

University Health is one of the very few centers in South Texas to offer advanced treatment for tricuspid valve disease. Through its comprehensive Tricuspid Valve Clinic and team of valve experts, University Hospital has become the only center in South Texas to provide both TriClip therapy and Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement (TTVR)—making it a leading destination for patients seeking state-of-the-art tricuspid valve care.