Outcomes of Guideline-Directed Concomitant Annuloplasty for Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation

Despite guideline recommendations, rates of concomitant tricuspid valve repair are suboptimal, possibly due to fear of complications. We reviewed morbidity, mortality, recurrent tricuspid regurgitation, and right ventricular remodeling after guideline-directed concomitant tricuspid valve repair.

We performed guideline-directed concomitant tricuspid valve repair on 171 consecutive patients who underwent left-sided valve surgery (degenerative mitral surgery or aortic valve replacement) between May 2012 and March 2016. Exclusion criteria included functional mitral regurgitation, rheumatic disease, active endocarditis, and concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting or complex aortic surgery.

Mean age was 68 ± 12 years, and 47% (81 of 171) were women. Preoperative atrial fibrillation was present in 57% (98 of 171), and preoperative tricuspid regurgitation was moderate or higher in 64% (108 of 171). The rate of de novo pacemaker placement was 4.1% (7 of 171), and the 30-day mortality rate was 0.6% (1 of 171). Estimated survival was 95% ± 4% at 1 year and 92% ± 5% at 5 years. Freedom from moderate or worse residual/recurrent tricuspid regurgitation was 93% ± 6% at 6 months and 89% ± 8% at 3 years. Quantitative echocardiography found no significant increase in right ventricular dimensions or area at 1 year in subgroup analysis. Mean echocardiographic follow-up was 14.1 months, and mean clinical follow-up was 33.9 months.

Guideline-directed concomitant tricuspid valve repair resulted in excellent safety end points and survival. At 14 months, freedom from moderate or worse tricuspid regurgitation was high, right ventricular performance did not worsen, and the pacemaker rate was comparable to rates after isolated mitral repair. Given these findings, adherence to current guidelines regarding functional tricuspid regurgitation should be encouraged.