Long-term results of tricuspid annuloplasty with 3-dimensional-shaped rings: effective and durable!

OBJECTIVES: 3-Dimensional (3D)-shaped rings are largely adopted for tricuspid annuloplasty, but evidence about their long-term results is scanty. The goal of this study was to analyse the long-term results of tricuspid annuloplasty with 3D-shaped rings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of our prospectively maintained database was carried out to identify all patients who underwent tricuspid valve repair with 3D-shaped rings between January 2011 and December 2014. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to analyse long-term survival. Cumulative incidence function using death as the competitive outcome was used to estimate cardiac death. RESULTS: A total of 168 patients were identified. The median age was 66years. Eighty-two patients (49%) were in advanced New York Heart Association functional class III-IV. Atrial fibrillation (AF) was present in 101 (60%); the median ejection fraction was 60%. In 82 (49%) patients, a Medtronic 3D Contour annuloplasty ring was employed; in the remaining 86 (51%) patients, an Edwards MC3 ring was used. Cumulative incidence function of cardiac death, with non-cardiac death as a competing risk, was 1.91.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.51-4.95) at 7years. The cumulative incidence function of recurrence of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) >= 2+ at 7years was 14 +/- 3.17%, 95% CI (8.49-20.82). Recurrence of TR >= 2+ at 7years was not significantly different between the Medtronic 3D Contour and the Edwards MC3 rings (P=0.3). AF was identified as the only independent predictor of recurrence of TR >= 2+. CONCLUSIONS: 3D-shaped rings are effective and durable. TR recurrence was relatively low at 7years and usually moderate (2+/4+) without a significant difference between the 2 types of rings. The role of AF as a predictor of TR recurrence was confirmed.