Tricuspid annuloplasty using autologous pericardial strip versus conventional suture annuloplasty (the De Vega and Kay methods) for repair of functional tricuspid regurgitation

Abstract

Background Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a common sequelae associated with left-sided heart valve diseases due to right ventricular and tricuspid annular dilatations. Surgical repair for significant TR has been demonstrated to enhance patient outcomes and lower mortality rates. Aim The primary endpoint is to evaluate the short-term outcomes of tricuspid annuloplasty employing a flexible band of autologous pericardium compared with the traditional suture annuloplasty procedures. Patients and methods A prospective study was conducted on 100 patients with moderate to severe functional TR and left-sided valvular lesions who comprised two study groups. Group (A) included 50 patients who got tricuspid valve repair utilizing a flexible band constructed of autologous pericardium. Whereas group (B) included 50 patients who had traditional suture annuloplasty. The repaired valve was evaluated intraoperatively. Postoperative follow-up was done for mean duration of 24 ms±12 ms by clinical examination and transthoracic echocardiography. Results Both tricuspid annuloplasty techniques resulted in good short-term outcomes, including improvements in TR status and reduction of right a-trial diameters. The use of a pericardial stripasa flexible band did not exhibit any degeneration or retraction over the duration of the study. Conclusion For the surgical repair of functional TR, tricuspid annuloplasty utilizing a pericardial band made of the autologous pericardium is an effective alternative. The surgical decision should be made based on the unique characteristics of the patient and variables related to long-term durability. To verify these findings, more research with bigger populations and longer follow-up times are required.