Valve repair for tricuspid valve regurgitation in pediatric patients: Midterm outcomes

Background

Tricuspid valve regurgitation in pediatric patients has heterogeneous lesions, and surgical intervention is sometimes necessary. Tricuspid valve repair is the preferred treatment for tricuspid valve regurgitation.

Objectives

This study aimed to review the midterm outcomes of tricuspid valve repair for tricuspid valve regurgitation in pediatric patients.

Methods

A total of 26 patients aged < 18 years who underwent tricuspid valve repair for tricuspid valve regurgitation at our institute between January 2005 and September 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Their median age was 3.7 years (range, 1 month–16.2 years), and 15 were males. 23 had congenital heart diseases. Among them, 35 % of patients had tetralogy of Fallot or pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (9/26), followed by ventricular septal defect (23 %, 6/26).

Results

Several reparative techniques were used according to valve lesions. Commissural edge-to-edge suture was the most frequently used technique. There were two cases of hospital death, and no late death occurred. During the median follow-up period of 7.8 years (range, 5 months–17.5 years), reoperation was performed in one patient with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. At the last follow-up, all survivors had mild or less tricuspid valve regurgitation. No patient had tricuspid valve stenosis. Postoperative tricuspid annular diameter increased within the normal range in all patients. Survival and reoperation-free rates at both 5 and 10 years were 92.3 % and 95.8 %, respectively.

Conclusion

Tricuspid valve repair for tricuspid valve regurgitation in pediatric patients is safe and feasible with satisfactory midterm outcomes.