Ring, Band or Suture in Tricuspid Annuloplasty for Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation; Which is Better and More Durable?

Background: In this study, we evaluate different annuloplasty modalities to repair functional tricuspid regurgitation. Patients and methods: Between January 2011 and January 2017, 200 patients with moderate or greater functional tricuspid regurgitation received tricuspid valve repair as part of primary surgeries on the left side of their cardiac valves. Of these, 39 patients received rings (Group A), 84 patients received bands (Group B), and 77 patients received suture annuloplasty (Group C). Results: Two patients from Group C were operated on again, during the primary hospital stay due to severe symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation. The degrees of early postoperative tricuspid regurgitation -mean vena contracta and mean jet area - significantly were higher in Group C. During a mean follow-up period of 26 +/- 12.6 months, 5 patients within Group C (6.85%) and one patient in Group B (1.3%) were operated on again with tricuspid valve replacement due to severe symptomatic tricuspid incompetence. Also during follow up, mean degrees of tricuspid regurgitation, mean vena contracta, and mean jet areas significantly were higher in Group C. Conclusion: Patients who received rings followed by band annuloplasty had better early and late results with lower recurrence rates than those who received suture annuloplasty.