Appraisal of Long-Term Outcomes of Tricuspid Valve Replacement in the Current Perspective

This French group retrospectively compared their experience with tricuspid valve replacements (n=188) using either tissue (82%) or mechanical (18%) valves during a >30-year period.  Findings from the study included:

• Almost half the cases were reoperative surgeries, and concomitant procedures were performed in 71%.
• Overall operative mortality was 28%, but decreased down to 10% in the most recent decade. 
• Freedom from structural valve deterioration trended higher for mechanical valves but did not reach statistical significance.
• Freedom from thromboembolic events and any valve-related adverse events were significantly higher for tissue valves.
• Eleven patients required repeat tricuspid valve replacements for structural valve disease at a mean interval of 16 years (range 4 to 33 years).  None of these valves were mechanical at the original implantation.