A Novel Minimally Invasive Porcine Model of Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a prevalent cardiovascular disorder with significant clinical impact. TR is frequently silent and underdiagnosed and is estimated to impact over 70 million people globally. Characterized by retrograde blood flow from the right ventricle into the right atrium due to incomplete valve closure, TR leads to right heart dilation, systemic congestion, and eventually right-sided heart failure. Importantly, TR may contribute to the onset of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained arrhythmia, affecting approximately 59 million individuals worldwide. Despite its growing clinical importance, the pathophysiology of TR remains incompletely understood, and current animal models of TR, based on direct valve manipulation, limit translational applicability. We present a novel, minimally invasive porcine model of TR established via femoral/jugular vein catheterization with deployment of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. The filter partially impedes tricuspid valve closure, inducing TR without valvular injury. Validation was achieved through multimodal imaging, including fluoroscopy, echocardiography, and electrocardiography, confirming hallmark features of TR, including right atrial and ventricular enlargement and arrhythmic activity. This model provides a reproducible, minimally invasive platform for studying selected features of TR progression. Its minimally invasive nature and preservation of native valvular structure make it a useful preclinical platform for mechanistic and translational research.