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Tricuspid Valve Repair

Tricuspid Valve Repair
Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute's surgeons are highly skilled in the surgical repair of the tricuspid valve. In the past, surgery to correct tricuspid valve disease was rarely performed. With improved technologies and skillful surgeons, tricuspid valve repair is becoming more commonplace. This repair may be recommended for primary tricuspid disease to treat valvular leakage (regurgitation), or as a combined procedure with other heart surgery such as coronary artery bypass or valve surgery

A surgical technique using a device called an annuloplasty ring was developed by Dr. Patrick McCarthy, Chief Cardiothoracic surgery here at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. This technique is now the preferred method for surgical tricuspid valve repair. The anatomically correct three dimensional (3D) ring flexibly conforms to the heart valve opening and does not cause strain on the sutures sewn around the ring to make the valve opening smaller. This allows the valve to open and close properly.

Advantages to Tricuspid valve repair using the ring technique

• Repair is more durable
• Less likely to need a pacemaker than if the valve was replaced

Valve Repair Surgery may be done in one of two ways:

• Minimally Invasive
  A small upper or lower chest incision is made (about three inches). The valve is repaired and the incision is closed with dissolving sutures. Advantages to a minimally invasive approach include a shorter recovery time, less pain post operatively and earlier return to work and normal daily activities.
• Traditional Approach
  If other heart surgery such as coronary artery bypass or other valve surgery is planned, a six to eight inch incision (down the middle of your chest) is made and your breastbone opened (sternotomy). After this surgery, the breastbone is wired back in place and the incision is closed with dissolving sutures.