The Larry D. Johnson Heart & Vascular Institute at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center is the first in the Greater Houston area to offer the Sapien M3 Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR) system, an innovative, minimally invasive treatment option for patients with mitral valve disease.
Mitral and tricuspid valve disease refers to any damage, defect, or dysfunction affecting the mitral valve on the left side of the heart and the tricuspid valve on the right side of the heart. These two valves act as gates that control blood flow from the upper chambers of the heart into the lower heart chambers.
Some people have no symptoms. Others may develop shortness of breath, tiredness, or palpitations. Doctors often use an echocardiogram—an ultrasound of the heart—to check the valve; treatment depends on how severe the problem is.
The catheter-based therapies enable physicians to replace diseased mitral and tricuspid valves without open-heart surgery, providing new hope for patients who may have previously been considered too high-risk for traditional surgical intervention.
“Offering minimally invasive mitral valve replacement therapy represents a significant milestone in cardiovascular care,” said Dr. Abhijeet Dhoble, an interventional cardiologist with UTHealth Houston and affiliated with Memorial Hermann. “Many of these patients previously had few, if any, treatment options and faced a poor prognosis.”
Recent clinical data demonstrated the effectiveness of these technologies. In a pivotal trial, patients treated with the mitral valve replacement device experienced low rates of mortality and heart failure hospitalization, while more than 95% achieved a significant reduction or elimination of mitral regurgitation.
“Offering advanced therapies reinforces Memorial Hermann’s commitment to innovative, patient-centered care,” Dr. Dhoble said. “These catheter-based technologies address the underlying valve disease while improving patients’ quality of life and helping them return to their families and daily activities sooner. We are proud to be at the forefront of structural heart care, providing our community with advanced and comprehensive treatment options.”