Minimally invasive procedures for patients with heart valve insufficiency
Prof. Dr. Ilka Ott treated a patient suffering from severe tricuspid valve insufficiency. The patient had a leaking tricuspid valve. This chronic right-sided heart failure caused not only a significant reduction in physical performance, fatigue, and shortness of breath, but also fluid retention and loss of appetite. Due to his advanced age and multiple comorbidities, open-heart surgery was not an option. As a result, minimally invasive TriClip implantation was the only effective treatment available to him.
The procedure is performed through a puncture of the femoral vein in the right groin. The catheter system carrying the TriClip device is advanced to the tricuspid valve and, under imaging guidance using transesophageal echocardiography, positioned and implanted at the valve.
Prof. Dr. Ilka Ott, the renowned Chief Physician of Cardiology, presented this case at the annual congress of the German Cardiac Society as a so-called Live Case in the Box. For this purpose, a film crew accompanied Prof. Ott and her team in the cardiac catheterization laboratory during the complex procedure and documented every important step. While the video was shown at the congress, the expert explained each stage of the intervention in detail. She impressed the audience with her interventional expertise and the excellent outcome achieved for the patient.
During the subsequent discussion, in which various treatment approaches for functional mitral and tricuspid valve diseases were reviewed, the Interventional Cardiology Working Group emphasized the importance of this treatment method for patients who are no longer candidates for cardiac surgery. Even a cardiac surgeon who routinely performs open-heart operations highlighted that interventional procedures represent a major innovation for such cases.
This year’s annual congress was held under the motto “Cardiovascular Medicine 2026 – Overcoming Boundaries Together, Setting Standards” and attracted around 8,700 participants from the fields of cardiology, cardiac surgery, and cardiac electrophysiology.
“We are proud that our Chief Physician of Cardiology, Prof. Dr. Ilka Ott, was invited to present the TriClip implantation procedure. This once again confirms that she is one of the most experienced experts in performing such highly complex interventions for the treatment of heart valve insufficiency. At Helios Hospital, our patients receive high-quality cardiological care close to home that is typically available only at specialized heart centers,”
said Emre Nazli, Managing Director of the hospital.
In addition, this procedure is also available at other hospitals within the Helios network, where it is performed by experienced specialists. These hospitals include:
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