Tricuspid repair: short and long-term results of suture annuloplasty techniques and rigid and flexible ring annuloplasty techniques.

BACKGROUND: Functional tricuspid regurgitation may arise from left heart valve diseases or other factors. If not addressed concurrently with primary surgical intervention, it may contribute to increased morbidity and mortality rates during the postoperative period. This study investigates the impact of various repair techniques on crucial factors such as systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP), tricuspid valve regurgitation, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional capacity class in the postoperative period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2007 to June 2013, 379 adults underwent open-heart surgery for functional tricuspid regurgitation. Patients were categorized into four groups: Group 1 (156) with De Vega suture annuloplasty, Group 2 (60) with Kay suture annuloplasty, Group 3 (122) with Flexible Duran ring annuloplasty, and Group 4 (41) with Semi-Rigid Carpentier-Edwards ring annuloplasty. Demographic, clinical, operative, and postoperative data were recorded over a mean follow-up of 35.6 ± 19.1 months. Postoperative SPAP values, tricuspid regurgitation grades, and NYHA functional capacity classes were compared among the groups. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were observed among the groups regarding age, gender, preoperative disease diagnoses, history of previous cardiac operations, or echocardiographic characteristics such as preoperative ejection fraction, SPAP, and tricuspid regurgitation. Hospital and intensive care unit length of stay and postoperative complications also showed no significant differences. However, patients in Group 3 exhibited longer Cardio-Pulmonary Bypass duration, cross-clamp duration, and higher positive inotrope requirements. While the mortality rate within the first 30 days was higher in Group 1 compared to the other groups (p: 0.011), overall mortality rates did not significantly differ among the groups. Significant regression in functional tricuspid regurgitation and a notable decrease in SPAP values were observed in patients from Group 3 and Group 4 (p: 0.001). Additionally, patients in Group 3 and Group 4 showed a more significant reduction in NYHA functional capacity classification during the postoperative period (p: 0.001). CONCLUSION: Among the repair techniques, ring annuloplasty demonstrated superiority in reducing SPAP, regressing tricuspid regurgitation, and improving NYHA functional capacity in functional tricuspid regurgitation repairs.

Aortoventriculoplasty for correction of patient-prosthesis mismatch examples.

OBJECTIVE: Patient-prosthesis mismatch is often considered as an important cause of adverse outcome following aortic valve replacement. A small annulus represents a challenge for the surgeon; yet can be best managed at the initial operation using relatively simple techniques, as later-on correction is often far more challenging. Corrective reoperations necessitate drastic root enlargement, along with the relief of subvalvular muscular obstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Konno-type aorto-ventriculoplasty is preferred in the present case series in order to achieve a radical aortic annulus enlargement in difficult reoperation settings and to address the accompanying subvalvular obstruction due to muscular hypertrophy simultaneously as well, with the septal patch included in the technique. RESULTS: This approach provides satisfactory relief of the obstruction at both valvular and subvalvular level and the benefits are immediately evident, as symptoms abruptly end in all cases. CONCLUSION: Long-term outcome is also excellent in both clinical and haemodynamic terms, as reflected by the significant left ventricle mass regression, absence of symptoms and improved quality of life.