Impact of tricuspid ring annuloplasty on functional tricuspid regurgitation after mitral valve surgery

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate tricuspid valve (TV) ring annuloplasty for moderate functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) in patients undergoing mitral valve (MV) surgery.BackgroundTV ring annuloplasty during MV surgery for severe FTR is recommended but for moderate FTR is controversial.Patients and methodsEighty patients with moderate FTR who were listed for MV surgery were classified into group A, the TV annuloplasty group which included 34 patients who underwent MV surgery and TV annuloplasty and group B, the TV nonrepair group, 46 patients who underwent MV surgery alone.ResultsAt 1-month follow-up, in group A: no, mild, and severe FTR were detected in 70.6, 26.5, and 2.9% of patients, respectively, whereas in group B, no, mild, moderate, and severe FTR were detected in 26.1, 58.7, 13, and 2.9% of patients, respectively (P = 0.001). Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in groups A and B was 27.2 ± 5.1 and 31.7 ± 6.8 mmHg, respectively (P = 0.001). At 6-month follow-up, in group A no, mild, and severe FTR were detected in 64.7, 32.4, and 2.9% of patients, respectively, whereas in group B, no, mild, moderate, and severe FTR were detected in 32.6, 50, 15.2, and 2.2% of patients, respectively (P = 0.01). PAP in groups A and B was 27.6 ± 5.1 and 32.2 ± 7.1 mmHg, respectively (P = 0.003).ConclusionIntervention for moderate FTR is recommended during MV surgery to avoid persistence or progression of the TR especially in patients with high PAP.