Vacuum-assisted venous drainage in tricuspid valve re-replacement.

The number of reoperations for prosthetic valve replacement has increased in recent years due to the steady increase in life expectancy. However, reoperations are complex and require experience and skills. We report the case of a 69-year-old female with severe right heart failure who underwent tricuspid valve re-replacement 28 years after the initial tricuspid valve replacement. Cardiopulmonary bypass with vacuum-assisted venous drainage (VAVD) was used to achieve better perfusion flow and heart decompression with smaller venous cannulae. The operation was successful. The VAVD system is effective in patients who have a persistent elevation of central venous pressure.