Tricuspid valve reconstruction, a treatment option in acute endocarditis

Tricuspid valve endocardititis is treated surgically by total valve excision or valve replacement. Both procedures are controversial with regard to the hemodynamic consequences and to the long-term prognosis. In the following, results of tricuspid valve repair in acute infective endocarditis are reported and discussed as an additional treatment option. Between January 1988 and December 1993, 118 patients were operated on for acute valve endocarditis at our institution. Eleven of these patients had tricuspid valve endocarditis, isolated (n = 7) or combined with endocarditis of a left-sided valve (n = 4). In the cases with isolated tricuspid valve endocarditis, the indication for surgery was intractable infection in six and hemodynamically relevant tricuspid insufficiency in one out of seven patients. In all patients with associated left-sided endocarditis, the indication was hemodynamic deterioration. In eight patients the tricuspid valve endocarditis was treated as follows: debridement, vegectomy, patch reconstruction of the cusps, reducing the cusps to two. In three patients reconstruction was not possible because of extensive involvement of all parts of the valve, including the valve ring and the papillary muscles. In these patients primary valve replacement (n = 1) or valve excision with secondary replacement (n = 2) was performed. In four patients tricuspid reconstruction was combined with mitral (n = 1), aortic (n = 1) or double valve replacement (n = 2). Postoperatively, signs of infection vanished in all surviving patients (n = 10) and tricuspid valve endocarditis healed without recurrences. Implanted prosthetic material did not lead to recurrent infection. One patient died early postoperatively after valve excision, in septic shock and multi-organ failure. In seven patients late echocardiographic follow-up showed tricuspid regurgitation grade 0 in three patients, I in two, II in one and III in one. Our results suggest that valve repair is a reasonable treatment option for tricuspid valve endocarditis in all cases with localized infection of the valve. Only if extensive valve destruction excludes valve repair, would we now favor primary valve replacement over simple valvulectomy. In all other cases primary valve reconstruction is the treatment of choice for tricuspid valve endocarditis, if surgery is indicated.