Tricuspid Leaflet Augmentation to Eliminate Residual Regurgitation in Severe Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation

Abstract

We describe a technique for treating severe functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) when residual regurgitation cannot be eliminated with ring annuloplasty alone. The anterior leaflet and the anterior half of the posterior leaflet are augmented with an elliptic pericardial patch before implantation of a rigid annuloplasty ring. We successfully performed this procedure in 9 patients with severe TR due to severe leaflet tethering or short coaptation length and achieved complete elimination of TR with sufficient coaptation length in tricuspid valve leaflets for all patients.