3D transesophageal echocardiographic assessment of acute reverse remodeling of the tricuspid annulus after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair.

Abstract

Aims: Our study aims to evaluate the acute remodeling of the tricuspid valve annulus immediately after the T-TEER by using intraprocedural transesophageal three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography.

Methods and results: We prospectively enrolled 62 consecutive symptomatic patients with at least severe TR, who underwent T-TEER with the TriClip System between March 2021 and June 2024. The following parameters were assessed using a multiplanar reconstruction analysis performed off-line using a 3D dataset: septal-lateral (SL) and antero-posterior (AP) annulus diameters; annulus area; annulus perimeter and eccentricity index.The acute procedural success was achieved in 85,5%. We observed an acute reduction in SL (from a median of 43 to 38 mm, p<0,0001), AP (from a median of 46 to 45 mm, p<0,0001), area (from a median of 17,9 to 15,95 cm2, p<0,0001), perimeter (from a median of 145,5 to 137 mm, p<0,0001) and eccentricity index (from 0,92 to 0,87, p<0,0001). The TV annulus was progressively larger in patients with higher residual TR. Analysis of the subgroups according to procedural success showed an acute inverse remodeling of the TV annulus independent of the acute procedural success.

Conclusions: The TV geometry necessitates the use of 3D echocardiography for accurate assessment of annular remodeling post T-TEER. The reduction in TR grade and TV annulus dimensions begins immediately after TriClip implantation. Concurrently, the baseline TV geometry influences the procedural results.