INTRODUCTION
Functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) can result from enlarged annular
area and increased chordal tethering. Annular dilatation is a constant
feature and is strongly related to right atrial or ventricle (RV)
enlargement1. \soutTricuspid regurgitation (TR) was
reported in 33% of men and in 37% of women,
respectively2. \soutSevere TR was associated with a
very poor prognosis, independently of age, RV dimensions, biventricular
function and inferior vena cava size3.
The observation that TR could progress after successful MV replacement
or repair2 leaded surgeons to correct even
moderate-or-less TR with dilated annulus (>40 mm or
>21 mm/m²). The results of surgical TR correction are,
however, still flawed, and prophylactic tricuspid annuloplasty remains
underused3, being performed in only 10% of patients
with MV disease4.
This retrospective study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between
preoperative RV remodeling and both late TR recurrence and RV
remodeling, so to identify subgroups of patients at higher risk of
tricuspid annuloplasty (TA) failure, to adopt different surgical
indications and treatment strategies.