UKSH Heart Centers Introduce New Heart Valve Replacement System

The cardiology clinics at the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) in Kiel and Lübeck are among the first institutions to provide their patients with a novel heart valve replacement system via catheter. With the newly approved technology for tricuspid valve replacement, the last of the four heart valves can now be treated minimally invasively using keyhole surgery techniques without major surgery. The first patients were discharged home last week following successful treatment at the Kiel and Lübeck campuses.

"We are very excited about these successes, which significantly expand the spectrum of therapies available to our patients," says Prof. Dr. Derk Frank, Director of the Department of Internal Medicine III, Campus Kiel. "It is a great team effort of the two University Heart Centers that this innovative technique is now available in Kiel and Lübeck," adds Prof. Dr. Ingo Eitel, Director of the Medical Clinic II, Campus Lübeck. Replacing the heart valve using a gentle catheter procedure was long considered an infeasible intervention. Following the approval of the new procedure, the cardiology clinics at the UKSH in Kiel and Lübeck are among the first ten centers worldwide to successfully replace a tricuspid valve catheter-guided through the groin.

Dr. Felix Kreidel, Head of Structural Heart Disease, who treated the first patient at the Kiel campus, says, "The introduction of the innovative method requires interdisciplinary teamwork with high expertise, from identifying suitable patients through differentiated diagnostics to the procedure itself. It is great news that this has been successful at both locations almost simultaneously." At the Lübeck campus, PD Dr. Christian Frerker, Deputy Clinic Director, performed the procedure with his team. He says, "The method is technically demanding, but it offers a safe and promising option for our patients with heart valve disease. Patients typically regain a high level of quality of life after the procedure."

The tricuspid valve is one of four heart valves. Particularly in people with pre-existing heart conditions, severe leakages can develop. The disease often significantly reduces the quality of life of those affected, with common symptoms including fatigue, water retention in the legs, abdomen, and next to the lungs, shortness of breath, or loss of appetite. At the University Heart Centers in Kiel and Lübeck, the disease can be surgically treated, but open surgery is often not feasible for patients with severe pre-existing conditions. Alternatively, minimally invasive clip procedures are available for repairing the defective valve. However, these may also not be possible in certain severe cases. With the new procedure, patients at the UKSH can now be treated through a gentle minimally invasive approach.

The University Heart Centers of the UKSH in Lübeck and Kiel are interdisciplinary facilities providing comprehensive care. Specialists regularly meet in interdisciplinary conferences and work closely with adjacent disciplines. The goal of integrated interdisciplinary cooperation is to offer every patient with cardiovascular disease the best diagnostics and therapy.

University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel
Department of Internal Medicine III, Prof. Dr. Derk Frank
Tel.: 0431 500-27100, Derk.Frank@uksh.de

University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck
Medical Clinic II, Prof. Dr. Ingo Eitel
Tel.: 0451 500-44501, Ingo.Eitel@uksh.de

Responsible for the press release:

Oliver Grieve, Press Spokesperson
University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein
Mobile: +49 173 4055 000
Email: Oliver.Grieve@uksh.de

Campus Kiel
Arnold-Heller-Straße 3 · 24105 Kiel
Tel.: +49 431 500-10 700

Campus Lübeck
Ratzeburger Allee 160 · 23538 Lübeck
Tel.: +49 451 500-10 700