Background and aims of the study: Changes in tricuspid inflow and regurgitant flow dynamics were evaluated in patients with functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) who underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) with and without tricuspid annuloplasty (TAP).
Methods: In a group of 30 patients, all with atrial fibrillation, 15 underwent TAP performed according to the modified De Vega technique; the remaining 15 did not undergo TAP. Patients were studied before and serially after surgery, using pulsed and color Doppler echocardiography. The mean follow up was 4.7 years in the TAP group and 5.1 years in the non-TAP group.
Results: In the TAP group, immediately after surgery, the area of the TR jet decreased markedly, and the deceleration time of the tricuspid inflow velocity wave was significantly prolonged compared with that before surgery. By contrast, in the non-TAP group, both the area of the TR jet and deceleration time of tricuspid inflow velocity were virtually unchanged. The area of the TR jet remained small for a long period in the TAP group, but in non-TAP patients was increased in four cases over seven years, with two patients developing right-sided heart failure. Recent data showed the area of the TR jet to be significantly smaller, with maximum tricuspid inflow velocity significantly increased, and deceleration time of the tricuspid inflow velocity wave significantly prolonged in the TAP group compared with the non-TAP group.
Conclusions: In patients with functional tricuspid regurgitation undergoing MVR, concomitant TAP may cause mild tricuspid stenosis, but produces sustained preventive effects against TR. Careful follow up is needed in patients who have not undergone TAP, as TR is not markedly decreased and may even be exacerbated. Aggressive TAP is recommended in patients showing dilatation of the tricuspid annulus, even if TR is mild.