title: The effect of pulmonary hypertension on ovine tricuspid annular dynamics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is associated with tricuspid annular dilatation, but the effect of acute increase of pulmonary pressure on three-dimensional (3D) tricuspid annular dynamics and shape is unknown. Better understanding of tricuspid annular dynamics may lead to improved and more durable surgical reparative techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  In nine open-chest anaesthetized sheep nine sonomicrometry crystals were implanted on the right ventricle while on cardiopulmonary bypass. Additional nine crystals were implanted around the tricuspid annulus (TA) with one crystal at each commissure defining three separate annular regions: anterior, posterior and septal. Two additional equidistant crystals were implanted between each commissure, creating three segments for every region. Pressure transducers were placed in the left ventricular (LV), right ventricular (RV) and right atrium. PHT was induced by acute pulmonary artery constriction with a pneumatic occluder. Sonomicrometry and echocardiographic data were collected before and after induction of PHT. TA area, regional and total perimeter, and 3D annular geometry were calculated from 3D crystal coordinates. Regional annular contraction was defined as the percentage difference between maximal and minimal region length during the cardiac cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PHT increased RV pressure from 31 ± 9 mmHg to 46 ± 13 mmHg (P = 0.001) and decreased left ventricular (LV) pressure from 111 ± 24 mmHg to 78 ± 36 mmHg (P = 0.018). There was no significant tricuspid regurgitation observed with PHT. During PHT, the TA area increased by 12 ± 13% from 641 ± 139 mm(2) to 721 ± 177 mm(2) (P = 0.037). The total perimeter increased from 103 ± 11 mm to 109 ± 13 mm (P = 0.02). All annular regions dilated significantly with PHT with 8 ± 10, 5 ± 5 and 5 ± 5% increase in anterior, posterior and septal annular length, respectively (P < 0.05). PHT reduced regional annular contraction in the anterior region only (17 ± 7 vs 14 ± 8%; P = 0.02). The TA had a complex 3D saddle geometry and the shape of the annulus was altered during PHT only in the antero-posterior region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The changes in tricuspid annular conformation, contractility and its 3D geometry observed during acute ovine PHT may help in the design of new pathology-specific tricuspid annular rings.
authors.affiliation: Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute at Spectrum Health, Michigan, MI, USA Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malinowski
authors.affiliation: Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute at Spectrum Health, Michigan, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wilton
authors.affiliation: Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute at Spectrum Health, Michigan, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Asghar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khaghani
authors.affiliation: Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute at Spectrum Health, Michigan, MI, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Langholz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hooker
authors.affiliation: Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute at Spectrum Health, Michigan, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Lenora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eberhart
authors.affiliation: Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute at Spectrum Health, Michigan, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hooker
authors.affiliation: Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute at Spectrum Health, Michigan, MI, USA timek@wmcts.com.
authors.forename: Tomasz A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Timek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058385:Cardiac Valve Annuloplasty / Q000379:methods*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000379:methods; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D034561:Sheep, Domestic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Pulmonary hypertension; Tricuspid annulus; Tricuspid valve