Cynthia JonesCynthia Jones, 93, knew something was wrong when she began experiencing shortness of breath. As a relatively active person, she was confused on why basic activities such as lying down to sleep or holding a conversation had become uncomfortable. She decided to seek help.
Ms. Jones went to her physician and was diagnosed with tricuspid regurgitation, which occurs when the tricuspid valve in the heart does not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the heart. Ms. Jones visited three physicians — all of whom said she would be a good candidate for a new procedure using a minimally invasive transcatheter device for a tricuspid valve repair. They referred her to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Cardiovascular Institute.
This transcatheter edge-to-edge repair procedure is a fundamentally image-driven therapy. Interventional cardiologist Mustafa Ahmed, M.D., worked together with Ali Ebrahimi, M.D., who provided expert guidance to safely advance the transcatheter device into the heart, target the origin of the leakage, and accurately grasp the leaflets of the valve with a clip before closing and removing the device. This reduces backward blood flow, improving heart efficiency and alleviating symptoms such as fatigue, swelling and shortness of breath.
“A severely leaky tricuspid valve with fluid retention, shortness of breath, fatigue and leg swelling can rob someone of their quality of life completely,” Ahmed said. “This is a very minimally invasive procedure that helps us achieve the same results as open heart surgery but through a tiny keyhole in the groin area.”
This surgery is ideal for patients who may be deemed inoperable or at high risk for open heart surgery. For patients like Ms. Jones, this option can significantly improve their quality of life, reduce hospitalizations and enhance functional status.
“Ms. Jones was a great candidate from an anatomic perspective, alongside the shared skill set Dr. Ahmed and I have developed, allowing us to take on her case because of our synergistic approach,” Ebrahimi said. “Because of our unique setup at UAB, I think it positions us to offer novel procedures and treatments like this to our patients across the region.”
After her surgery, Ms. Jones stayed one night in the hospital and was discharged the next day. Her recovery time was minimal, and she was able to get back to her normal routine very quickly. A few weeks after her procedure, she even joined her local gym to continue her active lifestyle.
In 2025, UAB Hospital earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval confirming UAB CVI’s designation as a Comprehensive Heart Attack Center.
“This was one of the easiest recoveries I have ever had,” Ms. Jones said. “When I woke up, I immediately felt relief. I had this procedure over a year ago, and I still feel as good as I did before I started experiencing problems.”
Ahmed was an investigator on the original trial. He says the teamwork at UAB between the structural, imaging, surgical and heart failure specialists is uniquely primed to deliver this option and is excited to offer this possibility to eligible patients.
Ms. Jones is one of many hundreds of patients helped by the UAB CVI each year. In 2025, UAB Hospital earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval confirming UAB CVI’s designation as a Comprehensive Heart Attack Center. The CHAC certification is for hospitals performing both cardiac surgical services and primary percutaneous coronary intervention 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. This new designation is reserved for institutions that prioritize a multidisciplinary team approach, combining efforts between cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery and emergency medicine, to offer treatment of the most complex and critically ill patients, including those with cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects UAB Hospital’s commitment to providing safe, evidence-based cardiac care to patients. The certification evaluates how UAB Hospital uses clinical outcomes and performance measures to improve care, as well as to educate and prepare patients and their caregivers for leaving the hospital.
“This accreditation demonstrates UAB’s incredible teamwork and commitment to excellence in our cardiovascular program across the board,” Ahmed said. “Our patients can feel confident knowing our program upholds the very highest standards of excellence and commitment to quality.”