Isolated Tricuspid Valve Surgery for Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation Following Prior Left Heart Valve Surgery: Analysis of Outcome in 34 Patients Michael E. Staab MD, Rick A. Nishimura MD, Joseph A. Dearani MD Patients with right heart failure due to severe tricuspid regurgitation following a prior operation on left heart valves present a difficult problem. Among 34 patients who underwent isolated tricuspid valve surgery, there were three in-hospital deaths (early mortality rate 8.8%), 13 patients were alive, and 18 reached a late end-point (three cardiac reoperations, 15 deaths). In total, 85% of survivors were symptomatically improved. Predictors of poor outcome were increased age and higher number of prior cardiac operations. Hemodynamic, echocardiographic and surgical variables were not predictive of outcome. Isolated tricuspid valve surgery can result in significant improvement in symptoms among survivors.

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