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How-to-do-it

A single-size band, 50 mm long, for tricuspid annuloplasty

Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Catania, Ferarrotto Hospital, Via Citelli 95124, Catania, Italy

Received 27 March 2008; received in revised form 21 May 2008; accepted 26 May 2008.

^_* Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 0957435980; fax: +39 095306833. (Email: calafiore{at}unich.it).

A technique for tricuspid annuloplasty is presented, using a flexible 50 mm long band, where the annular circumference is reduced to a fixed value of 78.5 mm (circumference of #25 mm sizer). From June to February 2007, 15 consecutive patients with tricuspid regurgitation (TR) underwent tricuspid repair using this technique. The first suture is passed at the level of the anteroseptal commissure, the last one in the zone of the septal annulus, 28.5 mm from the first one. The remaining sutures are passed as usual. All the sutures are then adapted to a 50 mm long band. After a mean of 5.4 months from surgery, all patients are alive and asymptomatic. One patient showed residual 2/4 TR, due to enlarged RV with high pulmonary pressure despite a well functioning mitral prosthesis. Mean gradient across the tricuspid valve was 2.5 ± 0.4 mmHg. This technique for tricuspid repair is simple and reliable, providing effective and reproducible results.

Key Words: Tricuspid valve • Tricuspid regurgitation • Tricuspid valve annuloplasty