Heart Valve Repair Plus Drug Treatment Cuts Deaths and Hospital Stays, Trial Finds

The New England Journal of Medicine posted the full results of the TRIC-I-HF trial, which looked at patients with a leaking heart valve condition known as severe tricuspid regurgitation (where the valve between the right heart chambers fails to close properly, causing blood to flow backwards). According to the trial findings, patients who received transcatheter tricuspid-valve repair — a procedure carried out through a thin tube inserted into a blood vessel rather than open surgery — alongside standard drug treatment had fewer hospital admissions for heart failure and lower death rates than those on medication alone.

The results were presented at ESC Congress, the European Society of Cardiology’s annual conference, one of the largest gatherings of heart specialists in the world. The NEJM published the full trial data alongside the presentation.

Tricuspid regurgitation is often described as an overlooked condition. It can cause breathlessness, fatigue, and fluid build-up in the legs and abdomen, and in its severe form it carries a poor outlook without treatment. Until recently, options beyond medication were limited — open-heart surgery carries high risk in patients who are already seriously unwell.

The transcatheter approach offers a less invasive alternative. And this trial suggests it makes a measurable difference to survival and hospital admissions, not just to valve function on a scan.

Kent residents with heart conditions who are concerned about symptoms — including unexplained breathlessness, ankle swelling, or fatigue — should speak to their GP in the first instance. For urgent concerns, NHS 111 is available around the clock. In an emergency, call 999.

Key information

• GP referral: Speak to your GP if you have unexplained breathlessness, fluid retention, or fatigue
• NHS 111: Available 24 hours a day for urgent but non-emergency health concerns
• Emergency: Call 999 if symptoms are severe or sudden