Bioprosthetic Replacement of the Tricuspid Valve

Summary

From 1976 to 1981, 11 patients underwent tricuspid valve replacement with bioprostheses. All but one patient had either previous or concomitant left-sided valvular disease. The mean preoperative functional class was 3.4. The operative mortality was 18% reflecting the compromised preoperative cardiac state of most patients. There were neither early nor late complications, and no deaths related to the tricuspid bioprosthesis after a mean follow-up of 26 months. In particular, no signs of postoperative right heart failure have been observed clinically.

Key words

Bioprosthesis - Tricuspid valve replacement