Infirmary Health Completes Alabama-First EVOQUE TTVR

Cardiologist Dr. Mina Jacob and Mobile Infirmary’s structural heart team successfully completed Infirmary Health’s first EVOQUE Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement (TTVR), making Mobile Infirmary the first hospital in Alabama to offer this procedure for patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation. Tricuspid regurgitation occurs when the tricuspid valve does not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward through the heart. It can lead to shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling in the legs and abdomen, and a reduced quality of life. Treatment options have historically been limited, particularly for patients who are not candidates for open-heart surgery. The procedure was performed by a multidisciplinary team including anesthesiologist Dr. Jordan Friel, echocardiography specialists, catheterization lab staff and cardiovascular support personnel with the Infirmary Health Heart & Vascular Institute. Unlike traditional surgical valve replacement, the EVOQUE system is delivered via a minimally invasive catheter-based approach, allowing physicians to replace the diseased valve without open-heart surgery.