Search

Background: Changes in right ventricular (RV) dimensions and function after tricuspid valve (TV) surgery and their association with long-term outcomes remain largely unexplored. The current study evaluated RV reverse remodeling, based on changes in RV dimensions and function, after TV surgery for significant (moderate or severe) tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and their association with outcome.Methods: A total of 121 patients (mean age 63 +/- 12 years, 47% males) with significant TR treated with TV surgery were included in this analysis. The population was stratified by tertiles of percentage reduction of RV end-systolic area (RVESA) and absolute change of RV fractional area change (RVFAC). Five-year mortality rates were compared across the tertiles of RV remodeling and independent associates of mortality were investigated.Results: Tertile 3 consisted of patients presenting with a reduction in RVESA >= 17.2% and an improvement in RVFAC >= 2.3% after TV surgery. Cumulative survival rates were significantly better in patients within tertile 3 of RVESA reduction: 90% vs. 49% for tertile 1 and 69% for tertile 2 (log-rank p = 0.002) and within tertile 3 of RVFAC improvement: 87% vs. 57% for tertile 1 and 65% for tertile 2 (log-rank p = 0.02). Tertiles 3 of RVESA reduction and RVFAC improvement were both independently associated with better survival after TV surgery compared to tertiles 1 (hazard ratio: 0.221 [95% CI: 0.074-0.658] and 0.327 [95% CI: 0.118-0.907], respectively).Conclusions: The extent of RV reverse remodeling, based on reduction in RVESA and improvement in RVFAC, was associated with better survival at 5-year follow-up of TV surgery for significant TR. The Department of Cardiology, Heart Lung Center, Leiden University Medical Centre has received research grants from Abbott Vascular, Bayer, Biotronik, Bioventrix, Boston Scientific, Edwards Lifesciences, GE Healthcare, Ionis, Medtronic, and Novartis. J.S. received funding from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC Training Grant App000064741). N.A.M. received speaker fees from Abbott Vascular and GE Healthcare. J.J.B. received speaker fees from Abbott Vascular and Edwards Lifesciences. V.D. received speaker fees from Abbott Vascular, Edwards Lifesciences, GE Healthcare, Medtronic, MSD, and Novartis. The other authors had no conflicts to declare.

Right ventricular (RV) function is an important prognostic marker in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) recipients. Measuring RV systolic function with echocardiography, however, remains challenging due to the complexity of right heartmorphology. Evaluation of RV function with RV free wall strain (FWS) may improve risk stratification in recipients of CRT compared with conventional RV function parameters. In 871 recipients of CRT (mean age 65 +/- 11 years, 75% were men), RV function was assessed by RV fractional area change (FAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and RV FWS measured by speckle tracking echocardiography. RV dysfunction was defined as RV FWS < 23%, RV FAC < 35%, and TAPSE < 17 mm according to present guidelines. Patients were followed up for the primary end point of all-cause mortality. RV FWS identified a higher percentage of patients with RV systolic dysfunction (80.6%) in comparison with RV FAC (44.1%) and TAPSE (60.6%). During a median follow-up of 97 (53 to 145) months, 521 patients (59.8%) died. Recipients of CRT with RV FWS < 23% had higher event rates than those with RV FWS >= 23%(p