Tricuspid Regurgitation Does Not Impact Right Ventricular Remodeling After Percutaneous Pulmonary Valve Implantation

Objectives This study sought to investigate the impact of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) on right ventricular function after percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI). Background PPVI provides a less invasive alternative to surgery in patients with right ventricular-to-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) conduit dysfunction. Recovery of the right ventricle has been described after PPVI for patients with pulmonary stenosis and for those with pulmonary regurgitation. Additional TR enforces RV dysfunction by supplemental volume overload. Limited data are available on the potential of the right ventricle to recover in such a specific hemodynamic situation. Methods In a matched cohort study, we compared patients who underwent PPVI with additional TR with those without TR. Results The degree of TR improved in 83% of the patients. In our patients (n = 36) exercise capacity and right ventricular volume index improved similarly 6 months after PPVI in patients with and without important TR. None of them had significant TR in the long-term follow-up of median 78 months. Conclusions PPVI improves not only RV-PA-conduit dysfunction, but also concomitant TR. In patients with a dysfunctional RV-PA conduit and TR, the decision whether to fix TR should be postponed after PPVI.