Real-Time Monitoring and Step-by-Step Guidance for Transcatheter Tricuspid Annuloplasty Using Transesophageal Echocardiography

Transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention (TTVI) is a novel alternative to functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) for patients with prohibitive surgical risk. Devices have been designed according to different pathophysiological mechanisms of FTR, including ones to achieve an edge-to-edge repair and others aiming at direct annuloplasty. Recently, a transcatheter tricuspid valve repair system mimicking a surgical Kay procedure (K-Clip (TM) system, Huihe Medical Technology, Shanghai, China) completed its salvage-use trial. The system, which clips the posterior annulus to achieve bicuspidization of the TV, demonstrated acceptable procedural safety and efficacy. Each TTVI system has distinct characteristics for echocardiographic imaging and special consideration for intraoperative guidance. This review focuses on elaborating how two-dimensional and three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) are used in clinical practice to guide K-Clip (TM) implantation in comparison to other direct annular reduction devices. A limited number of TEE work planes are proposed for the procedure with the aim to provide a steeper learning curve for the echocardiographer and interventionalist while simplifying the implantation steps.