The Early Results of Tricuspid Valvuloplasty with Using the Edwards MC3 Annuloplasty System

Oh, Tak Hyuck; Cho, Joon Yong; Lee, Jong Tae; Kim, Gun Jik; Kim, Dae Hyun

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) greater than or equal to a mild grade requires tricuspid valvuloplasty, and tricuspid valvuloplasty with ring annuloplasty has shown good outcomes. We report here on our early experience with the Edwards MC3 annuloplasty system (Edwards LifeSciences, Irvine, CA). MATERIAL AND METHOD: From November 2004 to July 2006, 72 patients with tricuspid annular dilatation and TR underwent tricuspid valvuloplasty with using the Edwards MC3 annuloplasty ring. Sixty-eight patients were operated on via median sternotomy and four patients were operated on using robotic assisted minimal invasive thoracotomy. The patient population included 21 males and 51 females and their mean age was 53.9+/-12.3. The mean grade of TR, as assessed by the preoperative echocardiography, was 2.2+/-1.0. The mean NYHA functional class was 3.1+/-0.8. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 57.0+/-9.9%. RESULT: The TR and NYHA functional class, as assessed by postoperative echocardiography, was significantly reduced (mean=0.4+/-0.6 and 2.0+/-0.7, respectively p<0.001). There was one case of hospital mortality. One patient required permanent pacemaker insertion for third degree atrioventricular block.
CONCLUSION
Our study shows that the Edwards MC3 remodeling ring is easy to implant and it effectively corrects functional TR with excellent clinical and echocardiographic outcomes. Further follow-up and a larger clinical series are required to establish the long-term stability of this repair technique.