30-Day Outcomes of Transcatheter Tricuspid Annuloplasty With the K-Clip System: A Single-Center, Observational Study

Surgery for isolated functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) poses a high risk. Several transcatheter approaches are being evaluated for the treatment of such patients. The K-Clip system is a percutaneous approach designed for functional TR; however, its utility remains unknown.

This study aimed to report the 30-day echocardiographic and clinical outcomes with the K-Clip system for severe TR, including changes in TR severity and NYHA functional class.

Transcatheter tricuspid valve annuloplasty was performed in 39 patients with intermediate or high surgical risk who underwent the K-Clip system. The right internal jugular vein procedure was performed with annuloplasty guided by fluoroscopy and echocardiography. The primary outcomes were clinical success and all-cause mortality at the 30-day follow-up.

The K-Clip was successfully implanted in all cases, with 1 to 3 devices deployed. At the 30-day follow-up, none of the patients had died. TR severity was reduced by at least one grade in all patients. There were no severe procedural or 30-day adverse events, except for 1 new pacemaker implantation. The proportion of NYHA class III-IV patients decreased from 79.5% to 5.1%, and the ascites disappeared. The 6-minute walk distance increased by 78 m (P < 0.05), and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score improved by 11 points (P < 0.05).

The K-Clip device is practical, safe, and effective for patients with severe TR. A 30-day reduction in TR and enhanced cardiac function and quality of life were associated with transcatheter tricuspid annuloplasty using the K-Clip device, according to short-term follow-up studies. (Confirmatory Clinical Study of Treating Tricuspid Regurgitation With K-Clip TM Transcatheter Annuloplasty System [TriStar]; NCT05173233).