Tricuspid edge-to-edge repair for tricuspid valve prolapse and flail leaflet: feasibility in comparison to patients with secondary tricuspid regurgitation

Aims: Transcatheter tricuspid edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER) has gained widespread use for the treatment of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in symptomatic patients with high operative risk. Although secondary TR is the most common pathology, some patients exhibit primary or predominantly primary TR. Characterization of patients with these pathologies in the T-TEER context has not been systematically performed.

Methods and results: Patients assigned to T-TEER by the interdisciplinary heart team were consecutively recruited in two European centres over 4 years. Echocardiographic images were evaluated to distinguish between primary and secondary causes of TR. Both groups were compared concerning procedural results. A total of 339 patients were recruited, 13% with primary TR and 87% with secondary TR. Patients with primary TR had a smaller right ventricle (basal diameter 45 vs. 49 mm, P = 0.004), a better right ventricular function (fractional area change 45 vs. 41%, P = 0.001), a smaller right (28 vs. 34 cm2, P = 0.021) and left (52 vs. 67 mL/m2, P = 0.038) atrium, and a better left ventricular ejection fraction (60 vs. 52%, P = 0.005). The severity of TR was similar in primary and secondary TR at baseline (TR vena contracta width pre-interventional 13 ± 4 vs. 14 ± 5 mm, P = 0.19), and T-TEER significantly reduced TR in both groups (TR vena contracta width post-interventional 4 ± 3 vs. 5 ± 5 mm, P = 0.10). These findings remained stable after propensity score matching. Complications were similar between both groups.

Conclusion: T-TEER confers equally safe and effective reduction of TR in patients with primary and secondary TR.