Mid-term results of tricuspid annuloplasty using the MC3 ring for secondary tricuspid valve regurgitation

We investigated mid-term outcomes after ring annuloplasty with the MC3 ring and aimed to identify factors associated with recurrent tricuspid regurgitation (TR). From October 2006 to October 2010, 136 patients (male:female 80:56, with a mean age 64.7±11.8 years) underwent tricuspid valve (TV) annuloplasty for functional TR. The indications for TV annuloplasty were (1) severe TR, or (2) mild or moderate TR with pulmonary hypertension (systolic pulmonary artery pressure >50 mmHg) or tricuspid annular (TA) dilatation, in patients undergoing mitral valve (MV) surgery. The average follow-up period was 1.5±0.8 years. The overall survival rates were 97.1±0.15%, 93.4 ± 0.02% and 90.7 ± 0.28% at three months, one year and four years, respectively. Freedom from recurrent moderate TR was 98.5±0.01, 95.6 ± 0.17% and 90.6 ± 0.03% at three months, one year and four years, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that residual TR was significantly associated with preoperative severe TR, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension >70 mm, right ventricular dimension >40 mm, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and left ventriculoplasty. This MC3 ring corrects TR effectively, and provided good results. We must point out, however, that additional or alternative surgical options should still be considered for high-risk of repair failure, such as those with DCM or high pulmonary hypertension.