Tricuspid regurgitation is a disorder in which the tricuspid valve does not close properly, causing backward flow of blood. It is a heterogeneous disease which can be classified based on the... Show moreTricuspid regurgitation is a disorder in which the tricuspid valve does not close properly, causing backward flow of blood. It is a heterogeneous disease which can be classified based on the underlying mechanism. The large majority of tricuspid regurgitation is secondary to conditions that cause tricuspid annulus dilation or leaflet tethering due to right ventricular or right atrial dilation. Part I focusses on the relationship between secondary tricuspid regurgitation and the right ventricle. Right ventricular dysfunction was demonstrated to be an important prognostic parameter in patients with secondary tricuspid regurgitation. A new staging system, incorporating right ventricular dysfunction and symptoms of right heart failure, may be valuable for risk stratification in patients with secondary tricuspid regurgitation. Patients who received tricuspid valve annuloplasty during left-sided valve surgery developed less right ventricular dilation and had less severe tricuspid regurgitation at long-term follow-up.Part II focusses on tricuspid regurgitation in specific patient populations: men and women, patients with atrial fibrillation and patients with obesity. An etiology-specific approach to detection and management of significant tricuspid regurgitation may be the most effective way to improve prognosis in all patients. Treatment of patients with tricuspid regurgitation remains challenging, but is developing rapidly with ongoing research. Show less
OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the prognostic value of staging right heart failure in patients with significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) undergoing tricuspid valve (TV) surgery.METHODS:... Show moreOBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the prognostic value of staging right heart failure in patients with significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) undergoing tricuspid valve (TV) surgery.METHODS: Patients with significant TR who underwent TV surgery were divided into 4 right heart failure stages according to the presence of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and clinical signs of right heart failure: stage 1 was defined as no RV dysfunction and no signs of right heart failure; stage 2 indicated RV dysfunction without signs of right heart failure; stage 3 included RV dysfunction and signs of right heart failure; and stage 4 was defined as RV dysfunction and refractory signs of right heart failure at rest.RESULTS: A total of 278 patients [mean age 64 (12), 49% males] were included, of whom 34 (12%) patients were classified as stages 1 and 2, 141 (51%) as stage 3 and 103 (37%) as stage 4 right heart failure. The majority of patients (91%) had TV surgery concomitant to left-sided valve surgery or coronary artery bypass grafting and 95% underwent TV annuloplasty. Cumulative survival rates were 89%, 78% and 61% at 1 month, 1 year and 5 years, respectively. Stages 1 and 2 and stage 3 were independently associated with better survival compared to stage 4 (hazard ratio: 0.391 [95% confidence interval: 0.186-0.823] and 0.548 [95% confidence interval: 0.369-0.813], respectively).CONCLUSIONS: Patients with significant TR undergoing TV surgery and diagnosed without advanced right heart failure have better survival as compared to patients with right heart failure. Show less