Tricuspid Valve Disease Treatment in India

Emily Das, a 58-year-old former high...

Emily Das, a 58-year-old former high school biology teacher, had always been active. Over the past two years, she noticed increasing fatigue and swelling in her ankles and abdomen. Simple tasks like gardening or walking her dog left her breathless. Her primary care physician detected a murmur and referred her to a cardiologist. An echocardiogram revealed severe tricuspid regurgitation, likely secondary to a prior, undiagnosed episode of endocarditis. The cardiologist explained that her heart was working inefficiently, and the leaking valve was causing fluid backup. He recommended a tricuspid valve repair, ideally via a minimally invasive approach. Emily was terrified of open-heart surgery but agreed. The procedure, a transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER), was successful. Her hospital stay was three days. Recovery at home was gradual but steady. Within six weeks, the swelling had subsided, and her energy began to return. Emotionally, she went from feeling like her body was betraying her, frustrated by her limitations, to profoundly grateful. She regained her independence and now volunteers at a community garden, cherishing her renewed vitality.