Tricuspid valve surgery.

Our purpose was to study the long-term results of the tricuspid valve replacement. It is obvious that tricuspid annuloplasty (Kay, De Vega) has its place in the treatment of functional tricuspid insufficiency that accompanies mitral or mitral and aortic valve disease. The Carpentier ring appears justified for some cases. However tricuspid valve replacement can be the operation of choice for some patients. Our study demonstrated that the Björk-Shiley and Starr-Edwards prostheses remain good substitutes in tricuspid valve surgery and that the long-term results are better than it was anticipated a decade ago.