Tricuspid Valve Repair for the Poor Right Ventricle: Tricuspid Valve Repair in Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Tricuspid Regurgitation Undergoing Mitral Valve Repair Improves In-Hospital Outcome.

Background Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients undergoing surgery for mitral valve (MV) increases morbidity and mortality, especially in case of a poor right ventricle. Does repair of mild-to-moderate insufficiency of the tricuspid valve (TV) in patients undergoing MV surgery lead to a benefit in early postoperative outcome? Methods A total of 22 patients with mild-to-moderate TR underwent MV repair and concomitant TV repair with Tri-Ad (Medtronic ATS Medical Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States) and Edwards Cosgrove (Edwards Lifesciences Irvine, California, United States) rings. The severity of TR was assessed echocardiographically by using color-Doppler flow images. The tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) was under 1.7 cm. Additional procedures included coronary artery bypass (n = 9) and maze procedure (n = 15). The following parameters were compared: postoperative and peak dose of noradrenaline (NA), pre/postoperative systolic pulmonary pressure (sPAP), extubation time, operation time, cross-clamp time, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, pre/postoperative ejection fraction (EF), intensive care unit (ICU)-stay, hospital stay, cell saver blood transfusion, intra/postoperative blood transfusion, and postoperative TR. Results The mean age was 67 ± 14.8 years, 45% were male. Mean EF was 47 ± 16.2%, postoperative 52 ± 12.4%. sPAP was 46 ± 20.1 mm Hg preoperatively, sPAP was 40.6 ± 9.4 mm Hg postoperatively, NA postoperatively was 12 ± 10 µg/min, NA peak was 18 ± 11 µg/min, operation time was 275 ± 92 minutes, CPB was 145 ± 49 minutes, ICU stay was 2.4 ± 2.4 days, hospital stay was 10.8 ± 3.5 days, cell saver blood transfusion was 736 ± 346 mL, intraoperative transfusions were 2.5 ± 1.6. Two patients needed postoperative transfusions. A total of 19 patients were extubated at the 1st postoperative day, 2 patients at the 2nd day, and 1 at the 4th postoperative day. Two patients required a pacemaker. No reintubation, no in-hospital mortality, and one reoperation because of bleeding complications. Conclusion Correction of mild-to-moderate TR at the time of MV repair does maintain TV function and avoid right ventricular dysfunction in the early postoperative period improving the clinical outcome.

Use of the eSVS Mesh: external vein support does not negatively impact early graft patency.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess early graft patency in eSVS Mesh-covered saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: In 20 patients meeting criteria for double arterial grafting to the left-sided coronary system and eSVS Mesh-covered SVG to the right-sided coronary system, patency was evaluated intraoperatively by transit time flow measurement and at 5 days postoperatively by computed tomographic angiography. RESULTS: Twenty patients underwent 49 arterial and 22 venous grafts (mean, 3.55/patient) using off-pump techniques. All grafts were determined to be patent intraoperatively. On computed tomographic angiography, arterial graft patency was 100%. In one venous anastomosis, the distal limb of a sequential graft was occluded, for an overall patency rate of 95%. CONCLUSIONS: The eSVS Mesh does not compromise early SVG patency.