Change in Tricuspid Valve Function after Transvenous Lead Extraction, Predisposing Factors and Prognostic Roles

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Devices
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Tricuspid valve (TV) function changes after transvenous lead extraction (TLE) and their long-term survival impact remain understudied.
• Investigating TV function alterations post-TLE is crucial for understanding patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate tricuspid valve (TV) function changes following transvenous lead extraction (TLE).
• To determine the impact of these TV function changes on long-term patient survival.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 2693 patients who underwent TLE between 2006 and 2021.
• Assessment of TV function before and after TLE using clinical data.

Main Results:

• TV function remained stable in 82.36% of patients post-TLE; worsening occurred in 9.54% and improvement in 8.10%.
• Factors like abandoned leads, fibrotic adhesions, and lead encapsulation predisposed to TV worsening.
• Non-infectious indications, pre-existing tricuspid valve regurgitation (TVR) severity, and lead encapsulation predicted TV function improvement.

Conclusions:

• TV function changes post-TLE were observed in 17.64% of patients, often linked to scar tissue formation.
• While TV function worsening did not affect survival, significant TVR reduction in severe cases correlated with a 40% mortality reduction.