HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center features new EVOQUE system
Staff Reports | Science & Technology
HonorHealth officials are reporting the achievement of a groundbreaking milestone as the first non-clinical trial site to perform the first tricuspid valve replacement in Arizona using the FDA-approved Edwards EVOQUE system.
The EVOQUE system is the world’s first transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement therapy, HonorHealth officials tell the Digital Free Press.
This advanced technique utilizes a catheter to implant an artificial, self-expanding tricuspid valve to prevent or reduce tricuspid regurgitation, the backflow of blood into the upper right chamber of the heart.
“Roughly 1.6 million Americans have moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation, but when discovered early, it can easily be managed. When it becomes moderate or severe, it can be life limiting and potentially, life threatening,” said Dr. Haidar Yassin, who is an interventional cardiologist at HonorHealth Heart Care. “Through this treatment, we can improve quality of life, relieve symptoms such as tiredness, shortness of breath and fatigue.”
Riana Kielly, hospital administrator at HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center, says this new system is another step toward complete heart care for all patients.
“HonorHealth Heart Care is a leader in aortic, mitral and pulmonary valve care, and this is the next logical step to provide complete heart care for our patients,” she said. “These innovative procedures require collaboration between multiple specialists and teams before, during and after the procedure. At HonorHealth, we already have these teams in place.”
Yassin and Robert Riley, M.D., network director, cardiothoracic surgery with HonorHealth Heart Care, were part of the multi-disciplinary team that completed the first procedure at HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center in December 2024.
