Tricuspid valve surgery and intraoperative echocardiography: factors affecting survival, clinical outcome, and echocardiographic success.
BACKGROUND
The impact of echocardiographic-guided treatment on outcome after tricuspid valve (TV) surgery is not well defined.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine clinical and echocardiographic factors associated with adverse outcomes after TV surgery and determine the role of intraoperative echo (IOE) in facilitating successful outcomes after TV surgery.


METHODS
Four hundred and one patients (279 females, mean age 60 years) underwent TV surgery and other concomitant cardiac surgery at a single institution and were followed clinically and by echocardiography during a 10-year period.


RESULTS
Decreased survival after TV surgery was associated with: preoperative increased New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification (relative risk [RR]=2.02), increased left ventricular dysfunction by echocardiography (RR=1.28), and use of a TV replacement strategy (RR=2.92). Decreased event-free survival after TV surgery was associated with concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (RR=2.97). Late echocardiographic failure (3 to 4+ tricuspid valve regurgitation [TR]) after TV surgery was associated with increased severity of TR on preoperative echocardiogram (odds ratio [OR]=1.91). Decreased late echocardiographic failure after TV surgery was associated with the use of a TV annuloplasty ring with a repair strategy (OR=0.40). The surgical plan was altered at the time of surgery to insure a successful outcome in 32 (10%) of 335 patients based on IOE findings.


CONCLUSIONS
Adverse outcomes after TV surgery can be predicted by several preoperative clinical and echocardiographic variables. IOE is useful in improving immediate, but not late, outcomes after TV surgery.
Department of Cardiology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44106-0001, USA.
C T
CT
Bajzer
W J
WJ
Stewart
D M
DM
Cosgrove
S J
SJ
Azzam
K L
KL
Arheart
A L
AL
Klein
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery