Retired nurse breathes easier after minimally invasive heart valve repair at Beacon Kalamazoo
Pat Zerfas had learned to live with a heart that wasn’t working quite right. She figured that was just how it would be.
The 87-year-old retired nurse had tricuspid regurgitation, a condition causing blood to leak backward through one of her heart valves.
The effects of her leaking heart valve were taking a toll on Pat’s quality of life.
“You just keep going,” she said. “But I noticed I was slowing down. I was becoming more short of breath.”
The traditional treatment for tricuspid regurgitation was open-heart surgery, but Pat wasn’t a candidate for this major operation due to her age and other medical conditions. Then a groundbreaking valve repair procedure became available at the Beacon Kalamazoo Heart Institute.
An innovative dime-sized solution
The TriClip™ procedure is a minimally invasive treatment designed to reduce leakage in the tricuspid valve without opening the chest.
Dr. Vishal Gupta, Co-Chair, Beacon Kalamazoo Heart Institute
“This is a true paradigm shift in how we treat tricuspid regurgitation,” said Dr. Vishal Gupta, Co‑Chair of the Beacon Kalamazoo Heart Institute. “Through a tiny access point in the leg, we can significantly reduce valve leakage without the trauma of open-heart surgery.”
Using a catheter inserted through the femoral vein in the groin, physicians guide a dime-sized clip to the heart and carefully position it on the valve to reduce the leak.
After additional testing confirmed she was a good candidate, Pat became the first patient to undergo the TriClip procedure at Beacon Kalamazoo. For a woman who spent her career caring for others, becoming the first patient to try something new came with its own kind of trust.
Dr. Gupta said the procedure offers new hope for patients who previously had few options.
“The procedure typically allows patients to be up and walking within hours, with many returning home the next day,” he said. “It’s truly a marvel of modern medicine.”
A smoother road to recovery
Pat says she noticed a difference shortly after the procedure.
“This procedure was a snap,” she said. “I felt immediate relief. I only stayed in the hospital overnight. There was really nothing to it.”
Today, Pat is participating in cardiac rehabilitation and enjoying improved strength and energy.
Now, she’s eager to pass along what she’s learned.
She hopes her experience encourages others with severe tricuspid regurgitation to explore their options. By combining expert cardiovascular care with advanced structural heart procedures, Beacon is ensuring more patients can receive leading-edge treatments close to where they live.
“There’s absolutely nothing to be afraid of,” Pat said. “You feel better and have a better quality of life.”
