Impact of pulmonary thromboendarterectomy on tricuspid regurgitation in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: a single-center prospective cohort experience.

BACKGROUND

For patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) undergoing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE), whether concomitant tricuspid annuloplasty should be carried out is still controversial.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 45 consecutive patients with CTEPH who were scheduled to undergo PTE. All PTE surgeries were conducted with a median sternotomy and deep hypothermia circulatory arrest (DHCA). We collected and analyzed the demographics, surgical details, echocardiographic parameters, and right heart catheterization (RHC) results of these patients.

RESULTS

Moderate to severe TR was documented in 48.9% (22/45) of the patients pre-operatively and 4.4% (2/45) of the patients post-operatively. In patients with grade 4 TR, severity decreased to grade 2 in 8 and to grade 1 in 1. In patients with grade 3 TR, severity decreased to grade 2 in 9, to grade 1 in 3, and 1 remained unchanged. In patients with grade 2 TR, severity decreased to grade 1 in 8, and 15 remained unchanged. The post-operative TR velocity was decreased significantly (431.9±53.4 196.5±154.0, P<0.001). Pulmonary artery systolic pressure was 84±17 mmHg pre-operatively and decreased to 38±14 mmHg post-operatively (P<0.001). The pre and post-operative pulmonary diastolic pressure was 29±9 and 17±7 mmHg, respectively (P<0.001). The pre and post-operative mean pulmonary pressure was 48±10 and 24±9 mmHg, respectively (P<0.001). The pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (1,025.4±465.0 476.6±181.2 dynes·sec·cm, P<0.001) and pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) (9±4 5±2 mmHg, P<0.001) decreased significantly after operation. The cardiac index (CI) increased significantly (1.9±0.5 2.3±0.4, P=0.003) after operation.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, functional TR could be alleviated after PTE even in patients with high PVR. However, the long-term results need to be further investigated.