The Outcome of Patients Undergoing Simultaneous Tricuspid and Left-sided Valve Surgery in a Rheumatic Population

Background In the context of endemic left-sided rheumatic heart disease, tricuspid valve disease requiring surgical intervention merits closer scrutiny in order to analyse surgical outcomes with presently employed techniques. Aims To evaluate the results of simultaneous tricuspid valve surgery for severe functional tricuspid regurgitation in rheumatic heart disease at the time of left-sided valve surgery. Materials and methods A retrospective analysis of the perioperative and follow-up data of 30 patients who underwent tricuspid valve surgery with concomitant mitral and/or aortic valve replacement between July 2003 and December 2011 was undertaken. Patients referred for left-sided valve replacement surgery with clinically and echocardiographically documented severe functional tricuspid regurgitation in the presence of tricuspid annular dilatation, were submitted for combined valvular procedures.