ICE and TEE Guidance for TriClip Tricuspid TEER

  • Published:  28 November 2025
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ICE and TEE Guidance for TriClip Tricuspid TEER

  • Published:  28 November 2025
  • Likes: 

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    1

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About the episode

In this opening chapter, Dr Karim Al-Azizi (Baylor Scott & White Health – The Heart Hospital, US) presents a compelling real-world case of an 80-year-old frail woman with severe symptomatic pacemaker lead-related tricuspid regurgitation and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) who remained highly symptomatic despite optimised medical therapy. 

Dr Al-Azizi provides comprehensive insights into case planning, patient selection and the rationale for employing a hybrid imaging strategy in this challenging scenario. This step-by-step walkthrough delivers practical guidance for interventional and imaging cardiologists managing complex tricuspid valve disease.

 

Key Learnings:

  • Patient Selection and Risk Stratification: How to structure comprehensive case assessment for TriClip tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) in frail, high-risk patients with pacemaker lead-related tricuspid regurgitation.
  • Hybrid Imaging Protocol: How to apply a reproducible hybrid transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE)/intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) imaging algorithm for procedural planning and real-time intra-procedural guidance.
  • Imaging-Driven Intervention Strategy: How an imaging-driven approach translates into targeted two-clip TriClip repair aimed at improving symptoms.

 

Heart Team:

Surgeon: Dr Karim Al-Azizi
Imaging: Dr Ralph Matar
Anaesthesiologist: Dr Jason Evan Smith
Co-surgeon: Dr Lee Hafen
Fellow: Dr Ahmed Elkaialy

 

Institution: Baylor Scott & White Health – The Heart Hospital, Plano, US

 

Imaging and Procedural Systems:

  • Intracardiac Echocardiography System: Philips Healthcare
  • Transcatheter Tricuspid Repair Device: TriClip (Abbott Structural Heart)
  • Transoesophageal Echocardiography: Philips Healthcare
  • Fluoroscopy Guidance System: Standard equipment

 

Producer: Transcatheter Academy
Editor: Mirjam Boros

Overview

In this comprehensive five-chapter case series, Dr Karim Al-Azizi (Baylor Scott & White Health – The Heart Hospital, US) presents a detailed step-by-step approach to complex tricuspid valve repair using hybrid imaging guidance.

 

Case Overview:
An 80-year-old woman with severe symptomatic pacemaker lead-associated tricuspid regurgitation and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) undergoes successful two-device TriClip XTW transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER).

 

Chapter 1 – Case Planning, Patient Selection, and Hybrid Strategy
Introduction to the case, patient selection criteria, and rationale for hybrid transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) imaging strategy.

 

Chapter 2 – Step-by-Step Technical Approach and Device Positioning
Real-time demonstration of vascular access, device trajectory planning, clip positioning and multiplanar imaging-guided optimization. Viewers witness live problem-solving and anatomical landmark confirmation.

 

Chapter 3 – Pacemaker Lead Avoidance and Independent Leaflet Grasping
Detailed walkthrough of anterior device placement relative to the pacemaker lead, transgastric TEE confirmation, high-resolution leaflet assessment and meticulous independent grasping of lateral and septal leaflets.

 

Chapter 4 – Two-Device Strategy for Pacemaker Lead-Adjacent Residual Regurgitation
Complex implantation of a second TriClip XTW device to address residual jets, posterior positioning relative to the lead, stepwise leaflet capture with clip arm testing and final device stability assessment.

 

Chapter 5 – Post-Procedure, Efficiency, and Outcomes
Final assessment demonstrating haemodynamic stability, mild residual regurgitation, efficient sub-50-minute procedure time, safe access-site closure, next-day discharge and 30-day clinical follow-up showing Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire improvement (42 to 78) with preserved right ventricular function.

 

Key Learning Points:

  • Comprehensive hybrid imaging protocol for complex tricuspid TEER
  • Patient selection and risk stratification in frail, high-risk populations
  • Pacemaker lead avoidance techniques and anatomical considerations
  • Two-device repair strategy for residual regurgitation
  • Procedural efficiency benchmarks and quality-of-life outcomes

 

Faculty:
Surgeon: Dr Karim Al-Azizi
Imaging: Dr Ralph Matar
Anaesthesiologist: Dr Jason Evan Smith
Co-surgeon: Dr Lee Hafen
Fellow: Dr Ahmed Elkaialy

Producer: Transcatheter Academy
Editor: Mirjam Boros

Faculty Biographies

Karim Al-Azizi

Karim Al-Azizi

Interventional Cardiologist and Structural Heart Disease Specialist

Dr Karim Al-Azizi is an Interventional Cardiologist and Structural Heart Disease specialist at Baylor Scott & White Health - The Heart Hospital, Texas, USA. He serves as the Medical Director of the Structural Heart Program and the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories. He serves as the Program Director of the Structural Heart Disease Fellowship.

His clinical and research interests include structural heart disease, transcatheter interventions for valvular heart disease, and electrosurgery. He speaks at national and international conferences on these subjects and serves as a principal investigator on multiple clinical trials in structural heart disease.

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