Tricuspid valve replacement with mechanical versus biological prostheses: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and objective: Tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) is required when repair is not feasible, and it continues to be a relatively high-risk procedure owing to the complex medical and/or surgical profile of patients. The choice between mechanical and biological prostheses for TVR remains a subject of debate owing to their distinct advantages and disadvantages. This study aimed to analyse and compare the clinical outcomes of these two types of prostheses in the tricuspid position.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the COCHRANE library were searched from 1995 to April 2023 for studies comparing clinical outcomes of mechanical versus biological valves in the tricuspid position. Data on 30-day mortality, reoperations, 5-year valve failure rates, thrombotic/thromboembolic events, and long-term survival were extracted, pooled, and analysed. Forest plots were generated using a random-effects model.

Results: From an initial pool of 4716 citations, 37 studies meeting our inclusion criteria were assessed, collectively encompassing 8316 prostheses (3796 mechanical, 4520 bioprostheses). Our analysis revealed that mechanical valves exhibited a non-significant trend towards diminished 30-day mortality (RR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.69-1.06). A distinct disparity emerged in valve durability, with mechanical valves demonstrating a significantly increased risk of 5-year valve failure (RR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.38-3.56). Strikingly, mechanical valves displayed a substantial six-fold elevated risk of thrombotic events (RR = 6.29, 95% CI = 3.98-9.92). In contrast, the long-term survival and reoperation rates demonstrated no statistically significant differences between the two valve types.

Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis provides insights into the selection of mechanical and bioprosthetic valves for TVR. These findings highlight the potential advantages and disadvantages of mechanical and bioprosthetic valves in terms of early mortality, valve durability, and thrombotic risk. Our analysis provides clinicians with evidence-based guidance for optimizing outcomes in TVR, offering a foundation for informed decision-making in this intricate surgical landscape. Despite these insights, clinicians must overcome the limitations of retrospective studies, evolving healthcare, and anticoagulant disparities to ensure careful consideration in tricuspid valve replacement decisions.