Prognostic value of tricuspid valve geometry and leaflet coaptation status in patients undergoing tricuspid annuloplasty: a three-dimensional echocardiography study

Abstract

AIMS: The advent of three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) enables detailed evaluation of the tricuspid valve (TV) apparatus, nonetheless, the clinical value of preoperative 3DE is unknown in patients undergoing tricuspid annuloplasty (TA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of TV geometric parameters and leaflet coaptation status evaluated by 3DE in patients undergoing TA. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 122 patients who underwent TA during left-sided heart valve surgery were evaluated. Detailed 3DE was performed before surgery. Adverse outcome was defined as the occurrence of heart failure requiring hospital admission or all-cause mortality following TA. A total of 33 adverse events (17 heart failures and 16 deaths) occurred during a median follow-up of 36 months. Tethering volume (hazard ratio=1.26, 95% confidence interval=1.12-1.41, P<0.01) and ratio of total leaflet length to closure length (hazard ratio=1.08, 95% confidence interval=1.05-1.13, P<0.01) were associated with adverse events after adjustment for age, sex and New York Heart Association class III/IV. Receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis revealed that tethering volume (area under curve=0.73) and ratio of total leaflet length to closure length (area under curve=0.75) were most associated with adverse events at 1-year follow-up. The presence of either a large tethering volume or a low ratio of total leaflet length to closure length was predictive of adverse outcome 1 year following TA. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that 3DE-derived TV tethering volume and ratio of total leaflet length to closure length are important preoperative measures associated with adverse events in patients undergoing TA.