For over a year, the USZ has been offering a novel transcatheter treatment specially developed for people with severe aortic regurgitation that closes an important gap in care.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVI) is an established therapy for the treatment of severe narrowing of the aortic valve, also known as aortic stenosis, for almost twenty years. However, recently a therapy for severe aortic valve leakage (aortic regurgitation) has been approved in Europe using a specially developed TAVI device – the Trilogy valve. The Cardiology Clinic of the USZ was the first in Switzerland to offer this procedure, providing patients with severe aortic regurgitation a safer transcatheter alternative, when the risks of open heart surgery are too high.
In aortic regurgitation, the aortic valve no longer closes adequately, causing blood to flow back through the valve into the left ventricle and impairing heart function. In contrast to aortic stenosis, the aortic valve in aortic regurgitation is often not calcified. Conventional TAVI valve devices require a certain amount of calcification in order to anchor themselves safely within the aortic valve. If this important support is missing, the risk of the procedure increases significantly.
The Trilogy valve uses three arms that align with the anatomy of the aortic valve to securely anchor the device in position. No calcification of the aortic valve is necessary.
Positive experiences in our clinic
The procedure is performed under light sedation and local anaesthesia via the blood vessels in the groin. The valve is inserted using a catheter and the procedure takes around 30 minutes.
The results so far have been very positive. All procedures were successful with no valve-related complications. The first follow up investigations also show very good results without any relevant residual leakage of the new valve.
Aortic insufficiency accounts for approx. 15% of all heart valve defects requiring treatment. In Switzerland, this affects around 200 to 300 people a year. For many of these patients, we can now offer a safe and reliable TAVI with the Trilogy valve.
For further information or referrals, please do not hesitate to contact us at the Clinic for Cardiology.
