A comparison of three tricuspid annuloplasty techniques: Suture, ring, and band

Background: This study aims to compare three different tricuspid annuloplasty techniques using suture, ring, and band. Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2015, a total of 231 consecutive patients (78 males, 153 females; mean age 50.3±15.9 years; range, 34 to 66 years) who underwent tricuspid valve annuloplasty using three different techniques were retrospectively analyzed. Tricuspid valve r epair w as p erformed w ith d e Vega a nnuloplasty t echnique (n=62, 26.8%), flexible ring (n=76, 32.9%) or Teflon strip (n=93, 40.3%). Postoperative data including vital signs, echocardiographic reports, functional status, and the rate of re-do surgeries were recorded. Results: Cardiopulmonary bypass times were statistically significantly shorter in the de Vega annuloplasty group (p<0.001). There was no significant difference among the groups in terms of the in-hospital mortality. Late postoperative tricuspid regurgitation grades, systolic pulmonary artery pressure, and right atrial diameters showed significant improvements, compared to baseline, in ring and strip annuloplasty groups. Conclusion: Our study results demonstrate that suture-based approaches should be avoided. Instead of performing routine tricuspid ring annuloplasty, Teflon strip annuloplasty may be considered an alternative method in most cases, particularly due to controversy in selection of true ring size and high cost of this surgical material in the real-life setting.