Published online Oct 26, 2017. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v9.i10.787
Peer-review started: October 31, 2016
First decision: January 14, 2017
Revised: May 12, 2017
Accepted: May 22, 2017
Article in press: May 23, 2017
Published online: October 26, 2017
Processing time: 214 Days and 10.5 Hours
To determine whether the need for additional tricuspid valve repair is an independent risk factor when surgery is required for a left-sided heart disease.
One hundred and eighty patients (68 ± 12 years, 79 males) underwent tricuspid annuoplasty. Cox proportional-hazards regression model for multivariate analysis was performed for variables found significant in univariate analyses.
Tricuspid regurgitation etiology was functional in 154 cases (86%), organic in 16 cases (9%), and mixed in 10 cases (6%), respectively. Postoperative mortality at 30 days was 11.7%. Mean follow-up was 51.7 mo with survival at 5 years of 73.5%. Risk factors for mortality were acute endocarditis [hazard ratio (HR) = 9.22 (95%CI: 2.87-29.62), P < 0.001], ischemic heart disease requiring myocardial revascularization [HR = 2.79 (1.26-6.20), P = 0.012], and aortic valve stenosis [HR = 2.6 (1.15-5.85), P = 0.021]. Significant predictive factors from univariate analyses were double-valve replacement combined with tricuspid annuloplasty [HR = 2.21 (1.11-4.39), P = 0.003] and preoperatively impaired ejection fraction [HR = 1.98 (1.04-3.92), P = 0.044]. However, successful mitral valve repair showed a protective effect [HR = 0.32 (0.10-0.98), P = 0.046]. Additionally, in instances where tricuspid regurgitation required the need for concomitant tricuspid valve repair, mortality predictor scores such as Euroscore 2 could be shortened to a simple Euroscore-tricuspid comprised of only 7 inputs. The explanation may lie in the fact that significant tricuspid regurgitation following left-sided heart disease represents an independent risk factor encompassing several other factors such as pulmonary arterial hypertension and dyspnea.
Tricuspid annuloplasty should be used more often as a concomitant procedure in the presence of relevant tricuspid regurgitation, although it usually reveals an overly delayed correction of a left-sided heart disease.
Core tip: Tricuspid valve repair with flexible ring is easy to achieve in patients undergoing heart surgery. Predictor scores such as Euroscore 2 could be shortened to a simple Euroscore-tricuspid of only 7 inputs. A significant tricuspid regurgitation following a left-sided heart disease is an independent risk factor that encompasses several other factors such as pulmonary arterial hypertension and dyspnea. Patients with functional damage of the right side of the heart and significant functional tricuspid regurgitation have poor mid-term results with high mortality. A concomitant tricuspid regurgitation usually reveals a delayed correction of a left-sided heart disease.