Marking a monumental milestone in Structural Heart Interventions, Dr. Sumanto Mukhopadhyay, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist and leading Structural Heart Specialist, has successfully performed two back-to-back cases of groundbreaking Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement (TTVR) procedures, first of its kind in India at Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata. These procedures offer a life-saving, non-surgical alternative for patients suffering from severe tricuspid valve regurgitation (leakage of the right-sided heart valve), who were previously deemed unsuitable for conventional open-heart surgery.
Understanding TTVR: A Paradigm Shift in Heart Care
The tricuspid valve controls blood flow between the right atrium and right ventricle. When it fails to close properly, blood leaks backward (tricuspid regurgitation or TR), leading to severe fluid retention, organ dysfunction, shortness of breath, fatigue, and eventual heart failure. Historically, the tricuspid valve was nicknamed the “forgotten valve” because surgical treatment carried prohibitive mortality risks, especially in elderly or frail patients.
How TTVR Works: TTVR (Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement) is a state-of-the-art, minimally invasive cardiac intervention. A bioprosthetic valve is compressed and guided into the heart via a thin catheter inserted through a small puncture in the femoral/jugular vein. Once positioned precisely within the damaged native valve, the new valve is expanded, immediately restoring healthy blood flow.
Key Patient Benefits:
No Open-Heart Surgery: Eliminates the need for a sternotomy (opening the chest) or cardiopulmonary bypass machine.
Rapid Recovery: Patients walk within hours and are typically discharged in 2 to 3 days, compared to weeks of recovery for open-heart surgery.
Immediate Relief: Prompt reduction in swelling, breathlessness, and heart failure symptoms.
Clinical Case Highlights: TTVR at Apollo Kolkata
Under the guidance of Dr. Sumanto Mukhopadhyay and the dedicated Structural Heart Team at Apollo Kolkata, two high-risk cases highlight the versatility and impact of TTVR:
High-Risk Patient Profiles: Both cases involved elderly frail patients presenting with severe, symptomatic Tricuspid Regurgitation and underlying health complexities that rendered conventional open-heart surgery unsafe.
Procedural Success: Under the expert leadership of Dr. Sumanto Mukhopadhyay and the dedicated structural heart team at Apollo Kolkata, the LuX-Valve Plus systems (Jenscare Scientific Co., Ltd, China) were successfully deployed with high precision.
Immediate Clinical Improvement: Post-procedure evaluations confirmed optimal valve function, complete resolution of backflow (regurgitation), and significant symptomatic relief without complications.
About Dr. Sumanto Mukhopadhyay
Dr. Sumanto Mukhopadhyay (MBBS, MD, DM, MRCP London) is a pioneering Structural Heart Intervention Specialist in India practising at Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata. Having completed advanced structural heart fellowships and served as a Consultant at the prestigious St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and Royal Brompton Hospital in London, UK, he brings extensive international expertise to India. Dr. Mukhopadhyay has performed over 2,000 TAVI/TAVR procedures and has vast experience in TMVR, TEER (MitraClip/TriClip/Pascal) and TTVR procedures. Dr. Mukhopadhyay is a recognized proctor and faculty member who regularly trains interventional cardiologists in advanced structural cardiac techniques across India.
Tricuspid valve regurgitation has long been one of the most challenging conditions to manage safely in patients with advanced age or associated co-morbidities. With TTVR, we are shifting the boundaries of what is possible in structural heart interventions. Delivering a brand-new valve via the femoral/jugular vein with a keyhole puncture allows us to give patients back their quality of life with minimal discomfort and reduced hospital stay.”
— said Dr. Sumanto Mukhopadhyay, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist & Structural Heart Specialist, Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata In a Press Meet at Press Club Kolkata, Dr. Mukhopadhyay has broadly explained this new treatment procedure for mass awareness.
