Left ventricular assist device implantation with concomitant tricuspid valve repair: is there really a benefit?

The objectives of this study was to investigate if concomitant tricuspid valve repair in patients undergoing continuous flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation has an impact on the outcome regarding survival and adverse events.

Between June 2007 and February 2018, 124 consecutive patients received HeartMate II (HMII) [74 (59.7%)] HeartWare (HVAD) [16 (12.9%)], or HeartMate III (HM III) [34 (27.4%)] for end-stage heart failure. Mean age was 63.5±10.9 years. Two 18-patient groups were identified; with [tricuspid valve reconstruction (TVR)] group and without (non-TVR group) accompanying TVR. The primary endpoint was overall survival after device implantation. Secondary endpoints were adverse events during the follow-up period.

Survival was not significantly different between the groups (P>0.05). In TVR group, there was a higher need for open chest after surgery and a prolonged inotrope use because of right heart failure (RHF), a higher incidence of acute kidney dysfunction requiring dialysis, as well as a higher need for packed red blood cells due to postoperative bleeding (P<0.05).

In this cohort of patients, LVAD implantation with a concurrent tricuspid valve repair appears to have a worse outcome regarding RHF, bleeding tendency and renal dysfunction (P<0.05). However, the survival was comparable in both TVR and Non-TVR groups (P>0.05).