Is autologous pericardial annuloplasty effective at reducing Tricuspid Regurgitation recurrence?

Autologous pericardial annuloplasty is a surgical technique used to treat tricuspid regurgitation (TR), a condition where the tricuspid valve does not close properly. This procedure involves using the patient's own pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart) to create a soft ring to support the valve.

What the research says

A retrospective study of 251 patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) compared autologous pericardial soft-ring annuloplasty (P-TVP) to prosthetic ring annuloplasty (A-TVP) for functional tricuspid regurgitation. While both methods showed similar results at 6 and 24 months, the autologous pericardial method was significantly more effective at preventing the return of moderate tricuspid regurgitation at the 48 and 96-month marks ⁴.

Other treatments for tricuspid regurgitation exist, such as transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR). In clinical trials, TTVR was shown to reduce tricuspid regurgitation to mild levels in over 95% of patients with severe or massive tricuspid regurgitation within one year ³. Additionally, research indicates that performing tricuspid valve surgery at the same time as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation may increase the risk of long-term mortality compared to LVAD implantation alone ¹.

What to ask your doctor

• How does autologous pericardial annuloplasty compare to prosthetic ring annuloplasty for my specific type of tricuspid regurgitation?
• What are the long-term success rates for tricuspid valve surgery in patients with my specific heart condition?
• What are the risks and benefits of performing tricuspid surgery concurrently with other procedures, such as an LVAD?
• Based on my heart's anatomy, is a surgical repair or a transcatheter replacement more appropriate for reducing my tricuspid regurgitation?