Guiding Interventions for Secondary Tricuspid Regurgitation

Secondary tricuspid regurgitation has long been considered a benign and well-tolerated valvular lesion that resolves after treatment of the underlying disease. This view has been challenged by data indicating that long-standing tricuspid regurgitation can be a progressive disorder, contributing to right ventricular failure and end-organ damage, despite adequate treatment of the underlying disease. Surgical correction is curative, but infrequently performed and historically associated with poor outcomes. This may be due to delayed diagnosis, lack of well-defined surgical indications and, consequently, late intervention in patients in poor clinical condition with failing right ventricles. Because of limited evidence about timing and corresponding outcome of tricuspid valve surgery, current guideline recommendations are rather conservative and show several inconsistencies. Nevertheless, there has been a trend towards a more aggressive approach in the surgical treatment of tricuspid regurgitation with improved outcomes. Moreover, emerging transcatheter options claim to provide a lower-risk alternative for selected patients. This may facilitate earlier treatment and improve the attitude towards an early treatment strategy of secondary tricuspid regurgitation, yet is not reflected in the guidelines. Future research is needed for risk stratification to determine inclusion criteria and optimal timing for intervention.