Current technologies in interventional treatment of tricuspid valve regurgitation

Abstract

For along time, severe tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) was an underestimated disease, especially in the older population and was associated with high morbidity and mortality. Due to the high perioperative mortality of tricuspid valve surgery, historically only pharmaceutical treatment was a practical treatment option. In the first studies interventional approaches could achieve promising results with an effective reduction of TR with simultaneous proof of aconvincing safety profile. Conceptually, the currently available interventional treatment options can be divided into three concepts: coaptation systems (edge-to-edge repair), annuloplasty and interventional valve replacement. The largest clinical experience and best scientific body of evidence could so far be generated in the field of coaptation systems. Very promising preliminary results with effective reduction of TR and improvement of the clinical symptoms are, however, also available for interventional valve replacement. Meticulous preprocedural diagnostics with selection of the most suitable treatment option for each individual patient is paramount for successful treatment in this critically ill patient cohort. Future prospective randomized studies will investigate the net benefit of an interventional treatment of TR in comparison to apurely conservative treatment concept.