ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe changes of right atrioventricular diameter and annulus after mitral valve replacement (MVR) in patients with and without tricuspid annuloplasty. METHODS: A total of 112 patients who underwent MVR surgery from April 2005 to December 2006 were recruited in this study. The patients were divided into two groups. Those with maximal tricuspid annulus diameter/body surface area > or = 21 mm/m2 were given tricuspid annuloplasty (TAPG, n=56). Otherwise, no tricuspid annuloplasty were performed (NTAPG, n=56). All of the patients were followed up regularly. The echocardiography were reviewed two years after the surgery. RESULTS: An average of (25.04 +/- 5.04) months had passed when the echocardiography were reviewed. The two groups had no differences in age, gender, body surface areas and cardiac functions (P>0.05). The TVPG group had more patients with atrial fibrillation than the NTVPG group (P<0.05). In the patients in the TVPG group, the right atrioventricular diameter, and maximal and minimal tricuspid annulus diameter were significantly narrowed after the operations (P<0.05). The percent shorting of tricuspid valve annulus did not change significantly (P> 0.05). The constituent ratio of TR was significantly reduced (P<0.05). However, in the patients in the NTVPG group, the right atrioventricular diameter did not change significantly (P>0.05). The maximal and minimal tricuspid annulus diameter increased (P<0.05). The percent shorting of tricuspid valve annulus did not change significantly (P>0.05). Though the constituent ratio of TR had no significant changes, 5 (13.5%) patients developed moderate or serious TR two years after the operations. CONCLUSION: Tricuspid annuloplasty (TAP) has benefits for the patients with enlarged right atrioventricular and tricuspid annulus. For those patients without enlarged right atrioventricular and tricuspid, their tricuspid valve conditions should also be carefully assessed. Because as time lapse, these patients may also develop TR.