Torrance Memorial Expands Advanced Heart Care with First EVOQUE Valve Procedure in the South Bay
For patients with severe tricuspid valve disease, treatment options have historically been limited. Now, the continued expansion of Cedars-Sinai affiliate Torrance Memorial Medical Center's Structural Heart Program is bringing a new minimally invasive treatment option to patients in the South Bay.
Torrance Memorial recently performed the South Bay's first transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement using the EVOQUE system, the first FDA-approved transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement device. The minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure provides a new treatment option for carefully selected patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation who may not be good candidates for traditional open-heart surgery.
The milestone represents another advancement in Torrance Memorial's growing capabilities to treat complex heart valve disease.
“More importantly, it represents our commitment to continually expanding the therapies we can offer patients with complex valvular heart disease,” says Michael Healy, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and structural heart specialist at Torrance Memorial. “As new structural heart technologies continue to emerge, our goal is to ensure that patients in the South Bay have access to the most advanced, evidence-based therapies close to home.”
A New Treatment Option for Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation
Tricuspid regurgitation occurs when the tricuspid valve does not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward within the heart. Severe cases can lead to progressive fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling and recurrent heart failure.
Historically, many patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation have had few treatment options. Because patients are often older or have multiple medical conditions, traditional open-heart surgery may carry significant risk. Medications can help manage symptoms but do not correct the underlying valve disease.
For carefully selected patients, the EVOQUE system allows physicians to replace the diseased tricuspid valve using a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure without open-heart surgery.
“Perhaps most importantly, patients who previously had few or no procedural options may now have a treatment that can substantially improve both how they feel and how they function,” Healy says.
Choosing the Right Treatment for Each Patient
The addition of transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement further expands the range of therapies available through Torrance Memorial's Structural Heart Program.
The program has evolved from offering minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR, to advanced mitral and tricuspid valve repair procedures and, now, transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement.
Having more treatment options does not mean every patient receives the newest procedure. Instead, Torrance Memorial's multidisciplinary heart team works together to determine which approach is best suited to each patient's anatomy, overall health and personal goals.
For some patients with tricuspid valve disease, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair using TriClip may be appropriate. For others, the anatomy or severity of the disease may make complete valve replacement with EVOQUE a better option.
“Having both repair and replacement technologies allows us to tailor therapy to each patient's unique anatomy and clinical needs,” Healy says. “That ability to individualize care is one of the greatest strengths of a comprehensive Structural Heart Program.”
Advanced Structural Heart Care Requires a Team
The first EVOQUE procedure at Torrance Memorial was performed by Healy alongside structural heart specialist Salman Azam, MD, with the support of a multidisciplinary team that included cardiac imaging specialists, cardiac anesthesiologists, nurses, cardiac catheterization laboratory staff and cardiovascular surgeons.
Preparation began well before the procedure itself. The team completed specialized training, procedural planning, simulation and multidisciplinary case review before performing the first implantation.
That level of collaboration is especially important in structural heart care, where advanced imaging and precise planning help physicians navigate the heart's complex anatomy and select the treatment most likely to provide a durable result.
Expanding Advanced Cardiovascular Care in the South Bay
The EVOQUE procedure is the latest step in the continued growth of advanced cardiovascular care at Torrance Memorial. As heart valve technologies evolve, the Structural Heart Program continues to expand its capabilities and evaluate new evidence-based treatment options for patients with complex heart valve disease.
For South Bay patients and their families, that growth means greater access to specialized heart care without necessarily traveling outside the community to a major academic medical center.
“Receiving this level of specialized care close to home is invaluable,” Healy says. “It allows patients to benefit from advanced therapies while remaining connected to their local physicians, support systems and community.”
As structural heart care continues to advance, Torrance Memorial's goal remains focused on bringing together innovation, experience and a collaborative heart team approach to provide individualized cardiovascular care close to home.
