Transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation

Heart. 2021 Oct;107(20):1664-1670. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2020-318199. Epub 2021 Jan 8.

Abstract

Objective: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a common valvular heart disease with unsatisfactory medical therapeutics and high surgical mortality. The present study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) in high-risk patients with severe TR.

Methods: This was a compassionate multicentre study. Between September 2018 and November 2019, 46 patients with TR who were not suitable for surgery received compassionate TTVR under general anaesthesia and the guidance of trans-oesophageal echocardiography and fluoroscopy in four institutions. Access to the tricuspid valve was obtained via a minimally invasive thoracotomy and transatrial approach. Patients' data at baseline, before discharge, 30 days and 6 months after the procedure were collected.

Results: All patients had severe TR with vena contracta width of 12.6 (11.0, 14.5) mm. Procedural success (97.8%) was achieved in all but one case with right ventricle perforation. The procedural time was 150.0 (118.8, 180.0) min. Intensive care unit time was 2.0 (1.0, 4.0) days. 6-month mortality was 17.4%. Device migration occurred in one patient (2.4%) during follow-up. Transthoracic echocardiography at 6 months after operation showed TR was significantly reduced (none/trivial in 33, mild in 4 and moderate in 1) and the primary safety end point was achieved in 38 cases (82.6%). Patients suffered from peripheral oedema and ascites decreased from 100.0% and 47.8% at baseline to 2.6% and 0.0% at 6 months.

Conclusions: The present study showed TTVR was feasible, safe and with low complication rates in patients with severe TR.

Keywords: transcatheter valve interventions; tricuspid valve disease; valve disease surgery.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cardiac Catheterization / methods*
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Recovery of Function*
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tricuspid Valve / diagnostic imaging
  • Tricuspid Valve / surgery*
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / diagnosis
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / physiopathology
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / surgery*