Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes by right ventricular function parameters in patients with functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) treated with tricuspid annuloplasty, and explore the relationship among the parameters. Methods Patients with functional TR having moderate or more severe regurgitation treated with tricuspid annuloplasty were selected as study objective. Ten patients underwent modified De Vega annuloplasty (suture annuloplasty group), and another 10 patients were managed with MC3 valve ring annuloplasty (artificial valve ring annuloplasty group). The right ventricular function parameters of patients were recorded before and after operation, including diastolic tricuspid annuloplasty diameter (DTV), myocardial performance index (MPI), right ventricular systolic shift from the long axis (RVLX), right ventricular outflow tract shortening (RVOTFS), systolic TR area to right ventricular area (STR／SRA), right atrial diameter (RA) and right ventricular diameter (RV). Parameters before operation and after operation were compared between groups, and the relationship among parameters was explored. Results STR／SRA, DTV and RA in both groups significantly improved after operation. The improvement of RA in artificial valve ring annuloplasty group was more significant than that in suture annuloplasty group. The correlation analysis revealed that RA was positively related to DTV both before operation and after operation （r=0.45,P<0.05；r=0.47,P<0.001), while there was no significant relationship between DTV and STR／SRA (P>0.05). Conclusion Tricuspid annuloplasty for functional TR is of clinical importance. Artificial valve annuloplasty works better than suture annuloplasty in RA improvement. RA is related to DTV, and can serve as an evaluation parameter for TR degree before operation and surgical outcomes.

Key words: tricuspid valvuloplasty, artificial valve annuloplasty, suture annuloplasty, right ventricular function parameter, functional tricuspid regurgitation