title: Tricuspid valve annuloplasty with a flexible prosthetic band.
abstract: This study evaluates the application to the tricuspid valve of a flexible prosthetic band originally devised for mitral repair. Between March 2001 and May 2005, 53 consecutive patients (age 66.2+/-8.5 years) with significant tricuspid regurgitation and dilatation of the right-sided cardiac chambers underwent tricuspid valve annuloplasty with the band and concomitant mitral repair or replacement. Thirty-one patients (58.5%) were in NYHA class III or IV, and 33 (62.3%) had a history of right heart failure. Follow-up was 19.2+/-14.0 months. Three patients (5.7%) died before discharge, and one during follow-up. One late reoperation was required for mitral endocarditis. NYHA class decreased in survivors from 2.7+/-0.8 to 1.4+/-0.6 (P<0.0001), and the symptoms of right heart failure improved significantly after surgery. Tricuspid regurgitation was mild or absent in 44 survivors (89.8%) and moderate in 5 (10.2%). Regurgitation significantly decreased even in patients with risk factors for tricuspid repair failure or with persistent left ventricular dysfunction. The 4-year actuarial freedom from tricuspid regurgitation grade >1 was 88.7%. By univariable analysis, preoperative tricuspid regurgitation grade >2, right ventricular shortening fraction <35%, and permanent pacemaker were associated with the risk of recurrent moderate regurgitation, though only probably so (P=0.077, 0.061, and 0.097, respectively).
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Ospedali Riuniti di Trieste, Strada di Fiume 447, 34100 Trieste, Italy. giusep.gatti@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marcianò
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Antonini-Canterin
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pinamonti
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Benussi
authors.forename: Aniello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pappalardo
authors.forename: Bartolo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zingone
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D018583:Pliability; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D014463:Ultrasonography