The Risk and Outcomes of Reoperative Tricuspid Valve Replacement Surgery

Objectives: Functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) usually occurs with previous cardiovascular surgery, which causes right-side heart failure and affects patient prognosis. Thus, we aimed to assess the risk and outcomes of isolated tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) after cardiovascular surgery. Methods: We reviewed our hospital medical records and found 107 patients, who had undergone TVR following cardiovascular surgery from June 2009 to November 2017. Follow up was performed by telephone calls, with a mean follow up of 51 months (one to 120 months). Previous surgical procedures of all patients were recorded, and we compared the differences in baseline and preoperative characteristics between the survival and non-survival groups by univariate analysis. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors. The variables with a P value <.05 on univariate analysis were entered into a multivariate analysis using stepwise selection. Results: TVR was performed in 107 patients, including 89 survivors and 18 non-survivors during the follow up. There were 38 male and 69 female patients, and the mean age was 53.55 years. Hospital mortality was 16.8% (18/107). The APACHE II (P<.001) and mechanical ventilation time (P=.001) were higher in the non-survival group. The values of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), total bilirubin (TB), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) before and after the operation and some preoperative values were different between the two groups (P<.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that APACHE II score, mechanical ventilation time, preoperative albumin, and postoperative TB were risk factors for TVR after cardiovascular surgery. Conclusions: Reoperation tricuspid valve replacement is associated with high operative mortality. High APACHE II scores, mechanical ventilation time and postoperative TB were associated with increased short-term mortality risk, while high preoperative albumin levels decreased the risk. Positive reoperation for tricuspid valve prosthesis dysfunction can obtain satisfactory therapeutic effects, and survivors could benefit from the surgery.