Isolated tricuspid regurgitation: A plea for early correction

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Cardiac Surgery
• Heart Valve Disease

Background:

• Isolated tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is increasingly recognized as a significant clinical entity.
• Untreated severe TR is associated with worsened patient survival.
• Current management strategies for severe isolated TR are debated, with stand-alone surgery infrequently performed due to perceived high mortality risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of early surgical correction for severe isolated tricuspid regurgitation.
• To assess the impact of timely intervention on patient survival and long-term results.
• To provide evidence supporting a revised approach to the management and referral of patients with severe isolated TR.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent data on patients undergoing surgical correction for severe isolated tricuspid regurgitation.
• Analysis of in-hospital mortality, short-term, and long-term survival rates post-surgery.
• Assessment of subsequent hospitalizations for right heart failure.

Main Results:

• Early referral and surgical correction of severe isolated TR yield excellent short- and long-term results.
• No in-hospital mortality was observed in patients undergoing timely surgical intervention.
• A 100% 5-year survival rate and no further hospitalizations for right heart failure were reported.

Conclusions:

• Recent data demonstrate that early surgical intervention for severe isolated TR leads to superior outcomes.
• These findings necessitate a re-evaluation of current treatment paradigms, management protocols, and referral practices for severe isolated TR.
• Surgical correction remains the sole effective therapeutic option for severe isolated tricuspid regurgitation.