Should Moderate-to-Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation be Repaired During Reoperative Left-Sided Valve Procedures?

Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2016 Spring;28(1):38-45. doi: 10.1053/j.semtcvs.2015.11.004. Epub 2015 Nov 19.

Abstract

The risks vs benefits of tricuspid valve (TV) surgery in reoperative patients requiring left-sided valve surgery and moderate-to-severe tricuspid regurgitation is unclear. We compared patients with and without concomitant TV surgery. A total of 200 patients with moderate-to-severe TV regurgitation had reoperative left-sided valve procedures from January 2002 to April 2014; 75 with TV intervention (TVI) and 125 with no tricuspid intervention (TVN). Propensity-matched cohorts of 60 TVI and 60 TVN patients were compared. Outcomes included New York Heart Association class, TV regurgitation and survival. TVI patients were younger (66 ± 15 vs 72 ± 13 years, P < 0.001), had more cardiogenic shock (6 of 75, vs 0 of 125, P < 0.001) and mitral valve surgery (60 of 75 vs 69 of 125, P < 0.001). Propensity matching yielded 60 pairs of TVI cases and TVN controls. Matched groups were comparable in age (TVI = 67 ± 13 vs TVN 68 ± 14 years, P = 0.67), cardiogenic shock (2 vs 0, P = 0.50), and mitral valve surgery (15 each, P = 1.0). Operative mortality was 2 of 60 in TVI vs 10 of 60 TVN (P = 0.27). Median follow-up was 4.4 years. Follow-up rates of New York Heart Association class III-IV were similar (12 of 60 for TVI vs 16 of 60 TVN, P = 0.52). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated improved event-free survival for TVI patients (6 years, 95% CI: 4.8-7.2 years vs 8 years, 95% CI: 6.7-9.3 years for TVN, P = 0.030). There was a trend towards increased TR at follow-up in patients with valve repair alone vs annuloplasty (P = 0.15). TV surgery was performed more often in higher-risk patients. Matched case-control analyses showed TVI was associated with improved midterm outcomes. Our data suggest that annuloplasty was preferable to TV repair alone.

Keywords: Aortic Valve Surgery; Mitral Valve Surgery; Reoperative Cardiac Surgery; Tricuspid Regurgitation; Tricuspid Valve.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Boston
  • Cardiac Valve Annuloplasty* / adverse effects
  • Cardiac Valve Annuloplasty* / mortality
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation* / adverse effects
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation* / mortality
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Selection
  • Propensity Score
  • Recovery of Function
  • Reoperation
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tricuspid Valve / physiopathology
  • Tricuspid Valve / surgery*
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / complications
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / mortality
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / physiopathology
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / surgery*