Triple valve replacement with bileaflet mechanical valves - Is the mechanical valve the proper choice for the tricuspid position?

A more durable mechanical valve may be a better choice for the tricuspid position than a bioprosthesis when the patient already has mechanical prosthesis in the left side of the heart. Eleven cases of triple valve replacement (total follow-up period, 49.5 patient years), all with mechanical valves, are reviewed to assess optimal valve selection. Nine patients had undergone a total of 12 previous cardiac surgeries. Three patients died in hospital (27.3%), but there were no late deaths among the survivors. Two cases of valve thrombosis in the tricuspid position occurred (linearized incidence: 4.04%/patient years) and 1 of these required reoperation. Because of this high incidence of valve thrombosis, the bileaflet mechanical valve is not considered to be the best choice. Even if mechanical valves are implanted in the left side of the heart, a bioprosthesis may be a better choice at the tricuspid position.