Regression of Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation After Lung Transplant: A Single-Center Experience

Although tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is common in candidates for lung transplant, no data or established guidelines exist regarding the need for surgical repair at the time of transplant. We aimed to evaluate the natural course of TR by assessing the incidence and extent of TR regression among patients who did not undergo tricuspid valve repair (TVR) concomitantly with lung transplant.

We retrospectively identified adult patients who underwent lung transplant without TVR at our institution from 2001 through 2017. Pretransplant and posttransplant echocardiograms were reviewed to assess severity of TR, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, central venous pressure, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, and right ventricular size and function.

Among 553 included patients, 324 (58.7%) were men, the mean (SD) age was 61.9 years (12.7), and 417 (75.4%) had a double lung transplant. TR before transplant was reported as trivial in 265 patients (47.9%), mild in 235 (42.5%), moderate in 40 (7.2%), and severe in 13 (2.4%). After transplant, TR improved significantly overall (P < .001). TR improved in 193 patients: 158 patients (81.9%) by 1 grade and 35 patients (18.1%) by 2 or more grades. Additionally, of 53 patients with pretransplant moderate or severe TR, 44 (83%) had improvement to mild, trivial, or no TR. After transplant, 12 patients (2.2%) had no remaining TR.

The severity of TR improved or showed no change in most patients after lung transplant, which obviates the need for TVR among most lung transplant recipients.