Tricuspid leaflet augmentation to eliminate residual regurgitation in severe functional tricuspid regurgitation

We describe a technique for treating severe functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) when residual regurgitation cannot be eliminated with ring annuloplasty alone. The anterior leaflet and the anterior half of the posterior leaflet are augmented with an elliptic pericardial patch before implantation of a rigid annuloplasty ring. We successfully performed this procedure in 9 patients with severe TR due to severe leaflet tethering or short coaptation length and achieved complete elimination of TR with sufficient coaptation length in tricuspid valve leaflets for all patients.     

Complete atrioventricular block due to a hydatid cyst located in the interventricular septum: a case report

We report a case of complete atrioventricular block and tricuspid valve insufficiency due to a cardiac hydatid cyst located in the interventricular septum that occurred in a 19-year-old male patient. Surgery was carried out with the help of cardiopulmonary bypass. The cyst was excised, and the interventricular septum was closed with an autologous pericardial patch treated with glutaraldehyde. The tricuspid valve insufficiency was repaired with annuloplasty. A dual-chamber epicardial pacemaker was implanted. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was doing well 6 months after discharge. This is the first report of a cardiac hydatidosis case for which the repair of the interventicular septum, tricuspid annulopasty, and permanent pacemaker implantation were performed during the same operation.     

Use of the pericardial cord as a substitute for an infected mitral prosthetic ring associated with aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis

We report the case of a 61-year-old man with prosthetic valve endocarditis after both aortic valve replacement and mitral annuloplasty. Necrotic tissue and dehiscence of the suture line in the aortic annulus were found, and the infection extended to the anterior portion of the mitral prosthetic ring. The autologous pericardial cord was used as a substitute for the infected mitral prosthetic ring, and aortic root replacement was performed with a stentless bioprosthesis. The autologous pericardial cord was useful as a substitute for an infected mitral prosthetic ring.     

Is a tricuspid annuloplasty ring significantly better than a De Vega's annuloplasty stitch when repairing severe tricuspid regurgitation?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether tricuspid valve (TV) repair with an annuloplasty ring leads to an improved outcome over a conventional suture annuloplasty for patients with severe tricuspid incompetence. Altogether, 306 papers were found using the reported search, of which 14 presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these papers are tabulated. We found seven studies supporting the use of ring annuloplasty over De Vega's suture annuloplasty. Five studies found no significant difference in outcome between the two techniques. We found only two studies supporting the use of De Vega's suture annuloplasty over ring annuloplasty. Therefore, most of the tabulated studies show good evidence in support of ring annuloplasty compared with De Vega's suture repair for treatment of moderate to severe TV regurgitation. One cohort study identified a 20.4% postoperative failure rate for tricuspid regurgitation (TR) repair and concluded non-application of ring as a predictor for reoperation. One cohort study with a mean follow-up of 17 months reported success rates as high as 97% with ring annuloplasty for TV regurgitation. One large cohort study of 2277 patients with TR who had undergone repair reported a sustained reduction in TR and the rate of recurrence in a 5-year echocardiographic follow-up. One cohort study of 129 patients concluded that ring annuloplasty has the lowest rate of recurrence compared with De Vega's suture repair. An old randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the subject also reported a similar result to the mentioned studies. In contrast, we reviewed one recent study and four older studies and found no significant difference between the two techniques. We reviewed one study that reported De Vega's suture repair as a superior technique to ring annuloplasty. We conclude that there is good evidence supporting ring annuloplasty over conventional De Vega's suture annuloplasty.     

Valvuloplasty with glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium in patients with complex mitral valve pathology

BACKGROUND: Severe mitral regurgitation associated with complex mitral valve disease often precludes successful surgical repair. The feasibility and the results of valvuloplasty with glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium remain largely unknown. METHODS: The cases of 63 patients who underwent operation within an 11-year period were studied. A pretreated autologous pericardial patch was used for leaflet extension plasty, for paracommissural plasty, as a substitute for part of the leaflet, and for reimplantation of ruptured papillary muscles to eliminate severe mitral regurgitation. Patients with a severely calcified annulus after en bloc decalcification had straddling endoventricular pericardial patch annuloplasty for reconstruction of the affected atrioventricular groove. Chordal replacement with a strip of pericardium was chosen if no suitable chordae were available. Pericardium-reinforced suture annuloplasty was used in patients with acute endocarditis resistant to medical therapy. Associated valvuloplasty procedures with Carpentier techniques were also employed. RESULTS: There were no operative deaths in this series. At a mean follow-up of 61.1 months (range, 4 to 132 months), mitral regurgitation was absent or trivial in 92.1% of patients by echocardiography. Freedom from reoperation was 95.2% at 1 year and 5 years. Thromboembolic events have not been detected. Thirty percent of patients returned to sinus rhythm. Two patients required valve replacement. CONCLUSIONS: Our beneficial results indicate that glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium is suitable for valvuloplasty. It provides durable and predictable repair of valves that might otherwise need to be replaced because of the complex mitral valve disease. The technique is reliable, allows further efficacious repair possibilities, and improves postoperative outcomes. Whether it can prevent late deterioration and calcification requires more investigation.     

Traumatic coronary artery dissection

A 14-year-old boy sustained blunt chest trauma resulting in dissection of the left main coronary artery, postinfarction left ventricular aneurysm, mitral regurgitation, and tricuspid regurgitation. He underwent pericardial patch angioplasty of the left main coronary artery, left ventricular aneurysmectomy, mitral valvuloplasty, and tricuspid annuloplasty. The patient continues to do well 4 years after operation.     

The Pericardium Reinforced Suture Annuloplasty: Another Tool Available for Mitral Annulus Repair?

From May 1985 to May 1992, 169 patients underwent surgery for mitral valve repair. In 87% of these patients, the valve reconstruction involved the mitral annulus. At the beginning, in an effort to preserve systolic movement of the annulus and avoid the implant of prosthetic materials inside the heart, we mainly used simple suture annuloplasty in 66 patients. When we reoperated upon three patients only a few months after reconstruction of the mitral valve for a dehiscence of the suture annuloplasty, we decided to perform ring annuloplasty with the Carpentier ring in 23 patients. Though we have not seen any problems with the Carpentier ring in our series, we performed a suture annuloplasty reinforced with a strip of autologous pericardium to eliminate all prosthetic material. Since introducing this technique in 1989, we have used this annuloplasty in 58 patients. We have not observed any dehiscence of the suture or other complications related to this procedure. Three patients with a pericardial annuloplasty underwent reoperation for other reasons; the autologous pericardium was perfectly attached to the annulus, covered by a smooth layer of fibrous tissue without calcification. After this encouraging initial experience, we believe that long-term follow-up is necessary to confirm that autologous pericardium is an effective method of mitral annulus repair.     

Successful surgical correction of endocardial cushion defect in a 63-year-old female patient

We have experienced a surgical correction of a 63-year-old female patient with ECD, who had suffered from severe congestive heart failure. Massive left to right shunt and severe mitral and tricuspid regurgitation were noted. The correction consisted of mitral valve replacement, patch closure of the ostium primum defect and annuloplasty of tricuspid valve. Postoperative course was uneventful. Surgical correction should be recommended even in old patient.     

应用彩色多普勒对二尖瓣置换术后三尖瓣功能的远期随访

目的应用彩色多普勒超声评价二尖瓣置换术后远期三尖瓣功能及形态变化。方法对接受二尖瓣置换术的903例病人术后三尖瓣功能进行了2～9年,平均(3.6±2.4)年的跟踪观察。所有病例术前均有不同程度的三尖瓣环扩大或关闭不全,其中未行三尖瓣成形术者201例;行Kay或改良DeVega成形术者686例;三尖瓣成形术同时加成形环者16例。结果未行三尖瓣成形术者术后2～3年有46例出现三尖瓣重度关闭不全;行Kay或改良DeVega成形术者,术后3～5年150例出现中重度三尖瓣关闭不全;三尖瓣成形术同时加成形环者仅1例术后2年出现三尖瓣轻-中度关闭不全。结论二尖瓣置换术后远期三尖瓣功能性关闭不全与三尖瓣环扩大、右心功能损害和严重肺动脉高压有关,三尖瓣环扩大是其重要的原因。对二尖瓣置换术者,手术中一旦发现有三尖瓣环扩大,即使无三尖瓣关闭不全,亦应行三尖瓣成形术,重度三尖瓣关闭不全、瓣环明显扩大者最好在环缩术的同时加成形环。     

单心房外科治疗的临床分析

目的总结单心房的外科治疗经验。方法自1984年8月至2004年8月共手术治疗单心房患者33例。其中30例二尖瓣关闭不全,行二尖瓣成形术;18例三尖瓣关闭不全,行三尖瓣成形术;3例仅为房间隔完全缺如。合并永存左上腔静脉14例。单心房均采用补片分隔。合并畸形同期矫治。术中采用2种缝合技术防止房室结和传导束的损伤,二尖瓣成形至无关闭不全。结果本组术后无死亡。术后无传导阻滞发生。除1例术后轻度二尖瓣关闭不全,其余无二尖瓣关闭不全。随访25例患者3个月～11年,均恢复正常工作学习。结论单心房一旦诊断明确应尽早手术;手术关键在于防止房室结和传导束的损伤、彻底矫正二尖瓣关闭不全以及合并畸形;单心房用补片分隔,自体心包补片为首选。     

二尖瓣置换术后远期功能性三尖瓣关闭不全的外科治疗

目的：报告二尖瓣置换（ＭＶＲ）术后远期三尖瓣关闭不全（ＴＲ）外科治疗的结果及作用,方法：３７例ＭＶＲ术后中重度ＩＲ病人,其中人工二尖瓣为生物瓣者１３,机械瓣２４例,有１１例行内科保守治疗,２６例行外科手术治疗,手术类型,ＭＶＲ加三尖瓣置换２例,ＭＶＲ加三法瓣成形１１例,三尖瓣置换３例,三尖瓣成型１０例,三尖瓣成形术包括改良Ｋay形成形１２例,改良ＤeVega成形术７例,加成形环的三尖瓣成形术２例,结果：１１例内科治疗者,７个月－７．５年后７６例死亡,病死率为５４．５％,26例手术治疗者,术后早期病死２例,病死率为７．７％,随访个月－１０．５年,晚期死亡例,仍中度ＴＲ２例,结论：ＭＶＲ术后远期ＴＲ的产生与不可逆的左心损害或（和）严重肺动脉高压有关,对重度ＴＲ伴有临床症状、左心功能基本正常者,行三尖瓣成形或三尖瓣置换术可取得良好的效果。     

Hemolytic anemia due to aortic valve regurgitation after mitral valve replacement

A 50-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of heart failure (NYHA III) due to mitral valve regurgitation (MR) with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR). She had a history of chronic renal failure undergoing dialysis (peritoneal dialysis, homodialysis) since 1996. Cardiac catheterization and ultrasonic cardiography showed severe MR (Sellers III), severe TR and PH (mean pressure 33 mmHg). So we performed mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty (DeVega). Frequent blood transfusion was needed because severe hemolytic anemia appeared after operation. Ultrasonic cardiography demonstrated moderate aortic valve regurgitation (AR) with no paravalvular prosthetic leakage. We diagnosed hemolytic anemia due to AR. We performed aortic valve replacement. Hemolytic anemia improved soon after second operation. We investigated the mechanical process of the AR. She had a very short subaortic curtain (5.9 mm) compared with the average (8.7 +/- 2.1 mm: mean +/- SD) of cardiac patients. We think that we must be very careful with suture to short subaortic curtain. In addition measurement of subaortic curtain before operation is very useful.     

Surgical repair of a common atrium in an adult.

We report a rare successful surgical repair of a common atrium (CA) with mild tricuspid valve (TV) regurgitation due to valvular annulus enlargement in a 39-year-old man, who had a complete atrial septum defect (ASD) without the characteristic of an endocardial cushion defect. The left-to-right shunt ratio was 85 percent and the Qp/Qs was 6.7 due to the CA. Left ventriculogram revealed no evidence of typical goose-neck deformity and no mitral valve regurgitation. The operation consisted of making a new atrial septum with an autologous pericardial patch and tricuspid annuloplasty (DeVega) using extracorporeal circulation. There was no evidence of a cleft on the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve or the septal leaflet of the TV. The postoperative echocardiogram showed no residual shunt flow through a new atrial septum and no TV regurgitation, and atrioventricular (AV) dissociation did not occur. We consider this procedure to be widely applicable in consideration of the favorable results obtained after surgical treatment.     

Successful surgical treatment of intramural aortoatrial fistula, severe aortic regurgitation, mitral prolapse, and tricuspid insufficiency in a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV

Patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) type IV, an inherited connective tissue disorder, are predisposed to vascular and digestive ruptures, and arterial ruptures account for the majority of deaths. A 31-year-old man with EDS presented with an intramural aortoatrial fistula, severe aortic regurgitation, mitral valve prolapse, and severe tricuspid valve insufficiency combined with a severely dilated left ventricle. Determining the best surgical option for the patient was not easy, especially regarding the course of action for the aortic root with a tear in the sinus of Valsalva. The fistula tract was closed at the aorta with suture and with a patch in the right atrium, the mitral valve was repaired with edge-to-edge suture and then annuloplasty with a Cosgrove ring, the aortic valve was replaced with a mechanical prosthesis, and a modified De Vega technique was used for the tricuspid valvuloplasty. The postoperative course was uncomplicated, and the patient was discharged 2 weeks later. The considerations made to arrive at the chosen surgical course of action in this complex case are reviewed.     

A case of aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis with aortic root aneurysm

A 72-year-old male who underwent patch closure of atrial septal defect and aortic valve replacement (AVR) 10 years ago was diagnosed as aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis for recurrent fever, coexisting paravalvular leakage and aortic root aneurysm by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Operative findings showed mechanical prosthesis was dehiscenced in part and limited subannular aneurysm that was healed macroscopically. The hole of the aneurysm was closed by direct suture. Re-AVR, mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty for complicating mitral valve stenosis and regurgitation and tricuspid valve regurgitation was performed. The patient is now doing well for one year after the reoperation.     

Surgical Treatment for Epicardial Metastasis of Myxoid Liposarcoma Involving Atrioventricular Sulcus

Abstract   We report the case of a 52-year-old man who presented with a cardiac metastasis of myxoid liposarcoma invading the atrioventricular sulcus. The tumor was arising from the anterior wall of the right atrium and basal right ventricle. After complete resection of the tumor (14 × 7.5 × 6 cm, 279 g), the annulus had no strong supporting tissue because of invasion of the atrioventricular sulcus. The tricuspid valve was reconstructed with reinforcement of the annulus using an autologous pericardial strip. The defect of the right atrial wall was reconstructed with a pericardial patch. After the reconstruction, echocardiography showed grade 1 tricuspid regurgitation. Although the patient had a small metastasis to the lung after surgery, he is doing well after 31-month follow-up. We believe that it is justified to perform aggressive resection with annuloplasty, when it is feasible, for cardiac metastasis of myxoid liposarcoma.     

A case of aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis with aortic root aneurysm]

A 72-year-old male who underwent patch closure of atrial septal defect and aortic valve replacement (AVR) 10 years ago was diagnosed as aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis for recurrent fever, coexisting paravalvular leakage and aortic root aneurysm by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Operative findings showed mechanical prosthesis was dehiscenced in part and limited subannular aneurysm that was healed macroscopically. The hole of the aneurysm was closed by direct suture. Re-AVR, mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty for complicating mitral valve stenosis and regurgitation and tricuspid valve regurgitation was performed. The patient is now doing well for one year after the reoperation.     

Tricuspid annuloplasty--modified technique

A modification of the DeVega's tricuspid annuloplasty (TAP) in the treatment of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is described. Using a double-ended 2-0 Ethibond suture buttered with a Teflon felt pledget, a double suture line is begun at the center of the annulus of the anterior tricuspid valve leaflet. The two suture lines 2 to 3 mm apart are run around the edge of the annular ring of the anterior and posterior tricuspid valve leaflets, going over the posteroseptal commissure by 1.5 cm. A tiny piece of Teflon felt is placed at the end of the sutures. The annulus is narrowed to sungly allow passage of a prove with a diameter of 28 or 30 mm. The tricuspid function is assessed by injecting saline into the right ventricle through the right atrium. Between March 1986 and July 1989, 28 patients with functional TR secondary to mitral valve diseases have been operated on by this technique. There are one early and one late deaths, none being related to tricuspid valve annuloplasty. All 26 survivors had a significant drop in right atrial pressure and an associated improvement in clinical status. Follow-up of the 27 patients who survived this TAP ranges from 2 to 38 months (mean 17 months). This annuloplasty is a safe, effective and readily teachable method for the surgical management of TR.     

左心瓣膜置换术后远期三尖瓣关闭不全的外科处理

目的探讨左心瓣膜置换术后远期三尖瓣关闭不全(TR)发生的可能机制以及外科治疗方法的选择和结果.方法 56例左心瓣膜置换术后远期发生TR行再次瓣膜手术的病人,10例人工瓣膜功能正常(A组)者中行二尖瓣置换(MVR)4例,主动脉瓣、二尖瓣双瓣置换(DVR)6例;46例人工瓣膜功能障碍(B组)者中MVR 36例,主动脉瓣置换(AVR)4例, DVR 6例.在A、B两组中,46例第1次手时三尖瓣未见明显异常,10例第1次手术时已行DeVega三尖瓣成形(TVP),第2次手术时发现缝线断裂3例,缝线撕脱7例.56例TR病人再次手术时9例行三尖瓣替换(TVR),其中6例三尖瓣呈风湿性改变;47例行TVP.结果 TVP和TVR各死亡1例,病死率3.6%.54例获随访,随访时间6～132个月,平均(79.4±34.8)个月.8例TVR病人术后心功能恢复良好,46例TVP者40例为轻度TR,5例出现中度TR,仍需强心、利尿药维持,1例再次出现重度TR.结论左心瓣膜置换术后远期TR可能与持续肺动脉高压、右心室不可逆损害、三尖瓣风湿性病变、左心功能的恢复情况以及持续心房纤颤有关.重度功能性TR和三尖瓣风湿性病变者行TVR的疗效可靠.随访发现部分TVP病人功能性TR仍有逐渐加重趋势.     

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.