Outcomes after surgery for functional tricuspid regurgitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aims to provide a contemporary overview of outcomes after tricuspid valve (TV) surgery for functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR).

The literature was systematically searched for papers published between January 2005 and December 2017 reporting on clinical/echocardiographic outcomes after TV surgery for functional TR. A random effects meta-analysis was conducted for outcome variables, and late outcomes are visualized by pooled Kaplan-Meier curves. Subgroup analyses were performed for studies with a within-study comparison of suture vs. ring repair and flexible vs. rigid ring repair. Eighty-seven publications were included, encompassing 13 184 patients (mean age: 62.1 ± 11.8 years, 55% females). A mitral valve procedure was performed in 92% of patients. Pooled mean follow-up was 4.0 ± 2.8 years. Pooled early mortality was 3.9% (95% CI: 3.2-4.6), and late mortality rate was 2.7%/year (95% CI: 2.0-3.5), of which approximately half was cardiac-related 1.2%/year (95% CI: 0.8-1.9). Pooled risk of early moderate-to-severe TR at discharge was 9.4% (95% CI: 7.0-12.1). Late moderate-to-severe TR rate after discharge was 1.9%/year (95% CI: 1.0-3.5). Late reintervention rate was 0.3%/year (95% CI: 0.2-0.4). Mortality and overall (early and late) TR rate were comparable between suture vs. ring annuloplasty (14 studies), whereas overall TR rate was higher after flexible ring vs. rigid ring annuloplasty (6 studies) (7.5%/year vs. 3.9%/year, P = 0.002).

This study shows that patients undergoing surgery for functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) have an acceptable early and late mortality. However, TR remains prevalent after surgery. The results of this study can be used to inform patients and clinicians about the expected outcome after surgery for FTR and can results serve as a benchmark for the performance of emerging transcatheter TV interventions.