Clinical mid-term results after tricuspid valve replacement.

Tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Frequently, TVR is performed in critically ill patients with high frequency of re-intervention. We analyzed our experience in TVR focusing on predicting risk factors, mid-term survival and quality of life assessed with a Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire. Between January 1992 and May 2007, 81 consecutive patients underwent TVR (54 re-interventions, 66.7%; 46 procedures, associated with a left-sided operation, 56.8%). There were 59 females (73%) with a mean age of 59.3+/-11.6 years. The most prevalent etiology was rheumatic fever (61.7%). Pulmonary hypertension was present in 64%. Mean left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) was 56.6% and mean right ventricle ejection fraction (RVEF) was 48.1%. All but four patients (4.9%) received a bio-prosthesis. Hospital mortality was 9.88%. The mean follow-up was 61+/-42 months. Survival was 68% at five years. Univariate predictors of hospital mortality were atrial fibrillation (AFib) (P<0.01), associated procedures on the left heart (P=0.025) and preoperative chronic right heart failure symptoms (P<0.01). At follow-up: 10.8% of patients had a pace-maker (PM) induced rhythm; the mean SF-36 score was 51.1+/-4.8 (range 59-38). Age (P=0.015), associated procedures (P=0.024) and previous cardiovascular surgery (P=0.015) were univariate predictors of the SF-36 score. At a multivariate analysis LVEF, venous congestion and pulmonary artery pressures (PAPs) were related with a SF-36 score.