Background: The operative indications for severe tricuspid insufficiency in patients undergoing left-sided valvular surgery are well defined; however, for mild and moderate insufficiency, the findings are still controversial. In this study, we aimed to document the prognostic parameters for progression of tricuspid insufficiency in patients undergoing left-sided valvular surgery.
Methods: 135 patients undergoing mitral valve ± coronary bypass surgery were retrospectively examined. Patients with simultaneous tricuspid valve surgery were excluded. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings were recorded and the relationship with progression of tricuspid insufficiency was studied.
Results: Valvular pathology was rheumatic in origin in 72.6% of patients. Tricuspid insufficiency was progressed in 69 (51.1%) of patients, while it did not change in 66 (48.9%) patients. Echocardiographic parameters recorded during follow-up revealed that left ventricular end-diastolic diameter decreased, while there was no significant change in right ventricular end-diastolic diameter. Tricuspid insufficiency was directly related with right ventricular end-diastolic diameter (P < .05), while no relationship was documented with left ventricular end-diastolic diameter. There was a statistically significant correlation between postoperative progression of tricuspid insufficiency and left atrial diameter; however, no relationship was documented with age, sex, valvular disease etiology, comorbidities, or preoperative atrial fibrillation. Risk factor analysis revealed that left atrial diameter was the only prognostic factor.
Conclusion: The indications for mild and moderate tricuspid insufficiency are still not clear for patients undergoing left-sided valvular surgery. In this study, we documented that left atrial dilatation was a prognostic factor for progression of postoperative tricuspid insufficiency. In this group of patients, presence of left atrial dilatation may be an indication for tricuspid valve intervention.