St. Joseph's Health Successfully Performs Syracuse's First Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement

Landmark Procedure Further Establishes St. Joseph's Health as 
Central New York's Leader in Cardiac Care

SYRACUSE, N.Y.— (November 11, 2026) St. Joseph's Health Cardiovascular Institute achieved another significant milestone in cardiovascular care on November 10, 2026, when its Structural Heart Program performed Syracuse's first Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement (TTVR). The groundbreaking procedure offers a new treatment option for patients suffering from severe tricuspid valve disease.

The procedure was performed by St. Joseph's Health interventional cardiologists Dr. Ayman Iskander and Dr. Ziad El-Khally, both of whom specialize in advanced catheter-based therapies and structural heart interventions. They were supported by a multidisciplinary team that included anesthesiologist Dr. Doug Fetterman, who provided both cardiac anesthesia and invaluable high-quality cardiac imaging during the procedure, plus certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), nurses and cardiovascular specialists.

This achievement represents yet another first for St. Joseph's Health and underscores the organization's longstanding commitment to bringing the latest, most advanced cardiovascular treatment to its patients. As the region's most experienced structural heart program, St. Joseph's Health continues to lead the market in developing and expanding minimally invasive treatment options for complex heart valve disease.

TTVR is a cutting-edge, minimally invasive procedure that replaces a diseased tricuspid valve without the need for open-heart surgery. The therapy offers new hope for patients who previously had limited treatment options and can significantly improve symptoms, quality of life, and overall heart function.

"Our mission has always been to ensure that patients have access to the most advanced cardiovascular care close to home," said Meredith Price, President, St. Joseph's Health Hospital. "Being the first hospital in Syracuse to perform a Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement reflects the strength of our Cardiovascular Institute and Structural Heart Program, as well as our unwavering commitment to innovation. This milestone reinforces what our patients and physicians already know: St. Joseph's Health is leading the way in bringing breakthrough therapies and lifesaving cardiac care to our community."

During TTVR, Dr. Iskander and Dr. El-Khally used a catheter inserted through a blood vessel, typically in the leg, to carefully guide a new valve into the heart and position it inside the diseased valve. The patient will experience less pain, a shorter hospital stay and a faster recovery than they would with traditional surgery.

"Severe tricuspid valve disease can significantly impact a patient's quality of life and, until recently, treatment options were limited," said Dr. Iskander. "Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement gives us a new way to help patients feel better and recover more quickly without the need for open-heart surgery."

"The ability to offer Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement is a gamechanger for our patients,” said Dr. El-Khally. “I am proud to be the first in Syracuse to perform this therapy in Central New York."

The first TTVR was performed at 7:30 a.m., followed by a second procedure at 9:30 a.m. Both procedures went very well with no complications. The patients are recovering in the ICU to ensure close monitoring and clinical stability as we introduce this innovative therapy to our region. They are expected to go home in 24-48 hours.

St. Joseph's Health has built one of the most comprehensive structural heart programs in New York State, offering advanced therapies for complex valve conditions including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), transcatheter mitral valve repair and replacement, left atrial appendage closure, and other minimally invasive structural heart procedures. The addition of TTVR further expands the program's ability to care for patients with increasingly complex cardiovascular conditions.

“We continue to work diligently to expand and advance the innovative procedures offered throughout our cardiovascular program because we believe our patients deserve access to cutting-edge therapies,” said Meredith Boss-Myers, MN, RN, Service Line Administrator of St. Joseph’s Health Cardiovascular Institute. “I am incredibly proud to support our physicians as they continue to pioneer new approaches and push the boundaries of what's possible in cardiovascular care for our patients. Together, we are not only advancing medicine, but ensuring our community has access to world-class, life-changing care close to home.”

As cardiovascular medicine continues to evolve, St. Joseph's Health remains committed to advancing access to innovative, minimally invasive therapies that improve outcomes and allow patients to receive world-class care without leaving Central New York.

 

About St. Joseph’s Health
St. Joseph’s Health, a non-profit health care system in Syracuse, New York, has been a trailblazer in the field since 1869 when it became the city’s first public hospital. Its commitment to exceptional care is evident in a network of acute, ambulatory, primary and specialty care services and partner care facilities providing a range of services to promote long-term health in the communities we serve. St. Joseph’s has been ranked by Consumer Reports among the top 15 heart surgery centers in the country, is a designated Primary Stroke Center, and is consistently named a Best Regional Hospital and #1 in the Syracuse Metro area by US News and World Report. St. Joseph’s Health is dedicated to excellence, innovation, and compassionate patient care. From pioneering ambulance services in Syracuse to being the first in Central New York to use robotic surgery technology in an outpatient facility, St. Joseph’s legacy of firsts demonstrates its ongoing commitment to leading medical advancements. Affiliated with St. Joseph’s Physicians and a member of Trinity Health, St. Joseph’s Health is your trusted partner in health, combining a rich history with a forward-thinking approach to ensure the health and well-being of our communities.
 

About Trinity Health

Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, Catholic health care systems in the nation. It is a family of 121,000 colleagues and nearly 36,500 physicians and clinicians caring for diverse communities across 27 states. Nationally recognized for care and experience, the Trinity Health system includes 101 hospitals, 126 continuing care locations, the second largest PACE program in the country, 136 urgent care locations and many other health and well-being services. Based in Livonia, Michigan, its annual operating revenue in FY2023 was $21.6 billion with $1.5 billion returned to its communities in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs.

 

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