Concomitant tricuspid valve repair for mild-moderate tricuspid regurgitation patients undergoing mitral valve surgery? A meta-analysis and meta-regression

The development of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a common complication of mitral valve disease. Although severe TR is usually operated on at the same time of mitral valve surgery (MVS), controversies remain regarding whether mild to moderate TR patients should be operated. Concomitant tricuspid valve repair with MVS for mild-moderate TR patients. Electronic databases were searched from inception to November 20, 2022 to include any observational or randomized controlled trials (RCT) that compare concomitant tricuspid repair with MVS versus MVS alone. Mantel-Haenszel method was used to pool study estimates and calculate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of 9813 patients from 25 studies were included. Regarding primary outcomes, concomitant repair group had significantly lower 30 days mortality (OR: 0.66; 95% CI 0.45 to 0.96), all-cause mortality-based on RCTs- (OR: 0.40; 95% CI 0.22 to 0.71), cardiovascular mortality (OR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.33 to 0.86) and heart failure hospitalizations (OR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.63). However, was associated with higher permanent pacemaker implantation rates (OR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.45 to 3.00). There were no significant differences in terms of secondary outcomes: tricuspid valve reinterventions, stroke and acute kidney injury. Furthermore, repair group showed lower risk for TR progression degrees (OR 0.08; 95% CI 0.05 to 0.16) and decreased mean of TR progression (MD -1.85; 95% CI -1.92 to -1.77). Concomitant tricuspid valve repair in mild or moderate TR at time of MVS appears to reduce not only 30 days but also long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality weighed against the increased risk of pacemaker implantation.