Surgical strategy for tricuspid valve disease

The most common cause of tricuspid valve dysfunction is functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) secondary to mitral valve disease. Annuloplasty is feasible in most patients with functional TR, and valve repair can also be performed in most patients with tricuspid valve dysfunction of other etiologies. Valve replacement is considered to be indicated only for those patients whose tricuspid valves have severe organic change or have been damaged by infective endocarditis. Although good long-term results of tricuspid valve replacement using bioprostheses have been reported, a bileaflet mechanical prosthesis may be an acceptable alternative in those patients who undergo concomitant valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis in the mitral or aortic position or who may have persisting pulmonary hypertension after surgery.