Imaging and computational modeling of tricuspid regurgitation and repair

The tricuspid valve (TV) and right ventricle (RV) are a complex mechanical system. Tricuspid regurgitation impacts a growing and heterogeneous population, leading to right-sided volume overload and right heart failure if left untreated. In part because isolated surgical tricuspid valve repair (TVR) is performed infrequently and has a high mortality, several percutaneous TVR options are being developed. However, the mechanical effects of different types of percutaneous or surgical TVR are unclear. Both the quality of RV imaging and the power of cardiac computational modeling have increased, and accurate computational models of the TV + RV with simulated TVR are now possible. Computational models of TV + RV may aid in patient selection and procedural planning prior to surgical and percutaneous TVR.