Caption, from left: Jesse Tate, RT; Jose Amortegui, MD; Christopher Sarnoski, DO, perform the region’s first Edwards Lifesciences EVOQUE Tricuspid Valve Replacement case on Tuesday, May 20th.
St. Luke’s Among First in Nation to Perform Revolutionary Tricuspid Valve Replacement Procedure
St. Luke’s Heart and Vascular team became the first in the region to perform a transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) using the revolutionary Edwards Lifesciences EVOQUE Tricuspid Valve Replacement System.
This procedure marks a significant advancement in the treatment of tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR), a condition where the tricuspid valve, located between the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart does not close properly, allowing blood to flow backwards. This can lead to severe complications such as heart failure and atrial fibrillation (AFib).
The cardiac surgery team led by Jose Amortegui, MD, and interventional cardiologist Christopher Sarnoski, DO, performed the first case on Tuesday, May 20th.
“We are thrilled to be at the forefront of cardiac care with the introduction of this tricuspid valve replacement system,” Dr. Amortegui said. “This innovative procedure offers new hope for patients suffering from tricuspid valve regurgitation, significantly improving their quality of life and reducing the risk of severe complications such as heart failure and atrial fibrillation.”
St. Luke’s Heart & Vascular is an eight-time nationally ranked 50 Top Heart Hospital dedicated to delivering unmatched, patient-centered care. Leading the region in heart and vascular care, St. Luke’s performed its first open heart surgery in 1983 and continues to be the first in the region to pioneer new and advanced surgeries to this day. From the most complex cases to routine procedures, St. Luke’s embraces innovative technologies to deliver the highest quality outcomes for all heart and vascular conditions.
The Edwards EVOQUE system features a self-expanding implant designed to safely replace a faulty tricuspid valve, offering a minimally invasive solution to eliminate TR. It can improve patient outcomes by preventing complications, reducing recovery times and enhancing overall quality of life for those affected by this condition.
About St. Luke’s
Founded in 1872, St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 21,000 employees providing services at 15 campuses and 350+ outpatient sites. With annual net revenue of $4 billion, the Network’s service area includes 11 counties in two states: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. St. Luke’s hospitals operate the largest network of trauma centers in Pennsylvania, with the Bethlehem Campus being home to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital.
Dedicated to advancing medical education, St. Luke’s is the preeminent teaching hospital in central-eastern Pennsylvania. In partnership with Temple University, the Network established the Lehigh Valley’s first and only four-year medical school campus. It also operates the nation’s oldest School of Nursing, established in 1884, and 52 fully accredited graduate medical educational programs with more than 500 residents and fellows. In 2022, St. Luke’s, a member of the Children’s Hospital Association, established the Lehigh Valley’s first and only free-standing facility dedicated entirely to kids.
SLUHN is the only Lehigh Valley-based health care system to earn Medicare’s five-star ratings (the highest) for quality, efficiency, and patient satisfaction. St. Luke’s is a Leapfrog Group and Healthgrades Top Hospital and a Newsweek World’s Best Hospital. The Network’s flagship University Hospital earned the 100 Top Major Teaching Hospital designation from Fortune/PINC AI 10 years in a row, including in 2021 when it was identified as THE #1 TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY. In 2021, St. Luke’s was also identified as one of the 15 Top Health Systems nationally. Utilizing the Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system for both inpatient and outpatient services, the Network is a multi-year recipient of the Most Wired award recognizing the breadth of SLUHN’s information technology applications such as telehealth, online scheduling and online pricing information.
Information provided to TVL by:
Sam Kennedy
