First patients benefit from new minimally invasive heart procedure at St. Vincent Regional Hospital

After living with a heart condition for decades, Judy Ortt, of Billings, recently became Montana’s first recipient of the TriClip procedure, a minimally invasive treatment for tricuspid regurgitation, a condition where the heart’s valve doesn’t function properly, impacting how blood flows through the body.

“My heart problems started about 25 years ago, when I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. My ejection fraction (a measure of the heart function) was very low at that time,” Ortt said. Her condition was improved and managed through medication and regular evaluation from her heart team at Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital.

“Everything was stable for 20 years or so. And then things started deteriorating,” she said. After a series of treatments, including the installation of a pacemaker and defibrillator, and a mitral clip heart valve procedure, Ortt’s heart care team at St. Vincent, led by Robert Terry, MD, recommended the new procedure.

The TriClip procedure is especially beneficial for patients with tricuspid regurgitation who may not be candidates for traditional open-heart surgery. The device is delivered to the heart via a catheter, allowing the heart to work more efficiently and improve function. Because the procedure is done using a catheter device, it is less invasive, allowing for quicker recovery and less risk of complications. This innovative approach offers new hope for patients who previously had limited treatment options.

“Traditionally, valve surgery has been done surgically through an open-heart procedure. In more recent years, technological improvements have allowed us to fix some of the valves through a catheter, including the new TriClip procedure,” said Dr. Terry.

Ortt was surprised to learn she was the first patient in Montana to undergo the procedure. “It was quite a surprise to find I was not only the first one in Billings, but the first one in Montana,” she said.

Ortt is now participating in cardiac rehabilitation three days a week and is feeling a difference.  “I’m not short of breath doing regular things and able to walk longer distances. I just feel much better,” she shared.

Dr. Terry shared how when evaluating options for patients like Ortt, it is a team effort.  “When a patient comes in, we evaluate them with the cardiovascular surgeon, their cardiology team, and the structural cardiologists to determine the best course of action for them,” he said. “Seeing the patients doing so well, is a credit to her whole care team.”