The RMH Structural Heart Team have performed Victoria’s first tricuspid valve replacement using a newly TGA-approved valve, delivered via transcatheter approach (via leg vein).
Led by Interventional Cardiologist Dr Matthew Brooks, Director of Structural Intervention Dr Will Wilson and Echocardiologist Dr Eliza Teo, the team says this procedure is a game-changer and will provide an alternative to open-heart surgery:
“This technology means that our patients can have a faster recovery time, and it significantly boosts their quality of life,” says Echocardiologist Dr Eliza Teo.
Tricuspid valve regurgitation is a heart condition that results in blood leaking into the heart’s right atrium leading to a range of symptoms including lethargy, shortness of breath and a rapid heartbeat.
“Severe tricuspid regurgitation has long been a ‘forgotten’ valve disease and many of the patients are too unwell for open-heart surgery so until now we’ve had little to offer beyond medication to manage their symptoms. This procedure changes that,” says Dr William Wilson.
“Our team is proud to be the first in Victoria to perform this procedure, which was enabled close collaboration between our clinical teams, hospital leadership and our international colleagues who helped us train in this technique”.
Two patients suffering from severe symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation were treated on 7 October 2026, both leaving the procedure with little to no remaining leak.
The surgery was conducted in our Cardiac Catheter Lab, where specialised equipment allows the team to conduct minimally invasive procedures under X-ray guidance.
Congratulations to the multidisciplinary team involved in making this major milestone possible!
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