A modified tricuspid annuloplasty for functional severe tricuspid regurgitation / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo retrospectively analyze clinical data of patients who has left-side valvular disease combined with severe tricuspid regurgitation and evaluate the effect of our modified tricuspid annuloplasty with enforcement of artificial felt strip.Methods76 patients who had left-side valvular disease combined with severe tricuspid regurgitation received operations between Jan.2008 and Jun.2010.The average age of the patients was 53.5 years old (32 male and 44 female).Besides the severe tricuspid regurgitation, other combined cardiac impairments included mitral valvar disease (52 cases), aortic valvar disease(5 cases), double valvar disease(19 cases) and left atrial thrombosis(22 cases).6 patients had grade II cardiac function according to the NYHA criteria, while 47 and 23 were in grade III and IV, respectively.Other signs included cyanosis(5cases), jaundice(11 cases), neck vein engorgement(48 cases) , ascites(22 cases), hepatomegaly(41 cases) and pitting edema in the lower limbs(68 cases).The concomitant operative procedures included mitral valve replacement in 52 patients,aortic valve replacement in 5 patients, double valve replacement in 19 patients, removal of left atrial thrombus in 22 patients,left atrium folding in 21 patients and left atrium appendage suture in 68 patients.Left-sided valve disease were corrected first,TAP was performed on the beating heart after the heart had been defibrillated.The anteroseptal commissure was plicated first.A double-armed 3-0 pledgeted suture was taken through the base of the septal leaflet, 5-6 mm from the commissure, extending along the annulus, and out from the point in the anterior annulus 10-12 mm from the anteroseptal commissure.Both ends of the suture was tied until the two Teflon pledgets approximated each other near the commissure.Then a semicircular De Vega type of plicating with a 3-0 prolene was taken, starting just from the anterior annulus near the anteroposterior commissure, and extending clockwise to a point just cephalad to the posteroseptal commissure.The suture was tied with positioning a 27-29 mm valve siser across the tricuspid valve.At last, a 3-5 mm width felt strip was prepared and was sutured to the plicated posterior annulus region with interrupted mattress sutures of 2 to 3 2-0 prolene.A favorable result was considered when TR was not marked by saline injection.Echocardiography was routinely examined one week postoperatively and patients were followed up 6 month after discharge.ResultsThere is no death in all patients.The CVP diminished significantly from 16mmHg preoperatively to 8mmHg postoperatively (P = 0.0021).The systomic pulmonary pressure diminished from 59 mmHg preoperatively to 41 mmHg postoperatively (P = 0.038).Echo one week postoperative showed no tricuspid regurgitation in 56 patients and mild in 18 patients, while 2 had moderate tricuspid regurgitation.The diameter of right atrium diminished significantly postoperatively, too.The ejection fraction was improved even though there was not significant difference as compared with preoperative data.The cardiac function of all patients improved and the signs of right heart failure were alleviated or disappeared.Follow up 1 to 36 months showed no change of the regurgitation except for one become moderate from mild when discharged.No hepatic congestion or edema was observed in all patients.ConclusionThese new modifications make the technique more selective in the remodeling of the tricuspid annulus.It could achieve better coaptation of the anterior leaflet with the others, successful annular reduction, better maintenance of the contractile property of the tricuspid ring, better distribution of pursing force in the more dilated region.It could prevent the tear of the endocardium in the posteroseptal region in the long period of time postoperatively.