Long-term outcomes of tricuspid annuloplasty for functional tricuspid regurgitation associated with degenerative mitral regurgitation: Suture annuloplasty versus ring annuloplasty using a flexible band

Purpose: We investigated the long-term outcomes of suture/ring tricuspid valve annuloplastyfor functional tricuspid regurgitation associated with degenerative mitral regurgitation.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent flexible ring tricuspidvalve annuloplasty (n = 120) or suture tricuspid valve annuloplasty (n = 42) for functionaltricuspid regurgitation concomitant with surgery for degenerative mitral regurgitation(mean follow-up duration, 5.3 ± 5.1 years).

Results: The mean age of patients was 62.5 ± 13.1 years. Thirty-day mortality was zero inthe suture group, and 0.8% in the ring group. Tricuspid regurgitation grade at dischargewas lower in the ring group (p = 0.002). No difference was observed between survival andfreedom from major cardiac/cerebrovascular adverse events between the groups. However,freedom from ≥moderate tricuspid regurgitation was higher in the ring group (Logrankp = 0.003). From univariate analysis, the risk factors for ≥moderate TR were sutureannuloplasty and preoperative tricuspid regurgitation grade. No reoperation for recurrenttricuspid regurgitation occurred in either group because symptoms experienced by patientswith recurrent tricuspid regurgitation were relatively insignificant.

Conclusion: Concomitant tricuspid annuloplasty using flexible bands offered improveddurability than suture annuloplasty for preventing postoperative tricuspid regurgitation progression.