Transcatheter Valve-in-Ring Implantation for the Treatment of Residual or Recurrent Tricuspid Valve Dysfunction After Prior Surgical Repair.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to describe the results of transcatheter tricuspid valve-in-ring (TVIR) implantation for treatment of tricuspid regurgitation (TR).

BACKGROUND

Off-label use of transcatheter valves within surgically placed tricuspid annuloplasty prostheses has only been described in small reports. An international multicenter registry was developed to collect data on TVIR implantation.

METHODS

Data were collected from 13 sites on 22 patients (5 to 69 years of age) with TR who underwent catheterization with the intent to perform TVIR implantation.

RESULTS

TVIR implantation was performed in 20 patients (91%). Most patients were severely impaired (86% in New York Heart Association functional class III or IV); TR was severe in 86%. A Sapien valve (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California) was implanted in 17 patients and a Melody valve (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) in 3. There were no procedural deaths. There was 1 valve embolization requiring retrieval and placement of second TVIR implant and 1 valve malposition with severe paravalvular regurgitation requiring a second TVIR implantation. Over a median follow-up of 12 months, 1 patient died and 2 underwent repeat TVIR implantation, 1 of whom subsequently underwent surgical valve replacement. Significant paravalvular leak (PVL) was treated at the time of TVIR implantation in 4 patients: 3 underwent device occlusion and 1 received a second TVIR implant. On follow-up echocardiography, 15 patients had PVL (75%), the majority of which (n = 10) were trivial or mild and did not require treatment. PVL intervention was performed in 3 patients during follow-up. Functional capacity improved in most patients (70%).

CONCLUSIONS

TVIR implantation using commercially available transcatheter prostheses is technically feasible and clinically effective in reducing TR. Paravalvular regurgitation is common and may necessitate further interventions.