Right heart remodelling after bicaval TricValve implantation in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation

Shaping the Anesthetic Approach to TricValve Implantation: Insights From a Case Series

OBJECTIVES

Caval valve implantation (CAVI) represents a minimally invasive strategy for managing severe tricuspid regurgitation in high-risk patients unsuitable for surgical or transcatheter tricuspid valve implantation. This case series aimed to assess the anesthesia management challenges and outcomes associated with this procedure, seeking to generate insights that can inform and refine anesthesia protocols.

DESIGN

A case series.

SETTING

At a cardiac catheterization laboratory of a teaching hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Eight patients undergoing CAVI with the Tricvalve system INTERVENTIONS: The anesthetic protocol included preprocedural planning, fast-track general anesthesia, and postprocedural debriefing. Intraoperative management involved anesthesia depth monitoring, real-time guidance via transesophageal echocardiography, and hemodynamic stability maintenance. Postoperative analgesia involved preemptive intravenous paracetamol and morphine as needed.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

No anesthesia-related or implantation-related complications were observed, with a mean procedure duration of 112 ± 44 minutes. The median hospital stay was 4 days, and only 1 patient required brief intensive care unit monitoring. Postoperative right shoulder pain was reported by half of the patients, and was managed with morphine bolus administration (average dose 4.75 ± 3.6 mg). All patients had the device correctly positioned, as confirmed by postoperative transthoracic echocardiograms. None of the patients required outpatient analgesic therapy upon discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors' study demonstrated the potential of TricValve implantation in effectively managing severe tricuspid regurgitation with no procedure-related complications and a 100% survival rate. A collaborative, interdisciplinary approach and targeted anesthesia management proved crucial for this success. Postoperative shoulder pain emerged as a frequent complication, whose pathogenesis is still not clear, and successfully was managed using targeted analgesic therapy.

Transcatheter treatment of the tricuspid valve: current status and perspectives

Transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions (TTVI) are emerging as alternatives to surgery in high-risk patients with isolated or concomitant tricuspid regurgitation. The development of new minimally invasive solutions potentially more adapted to this largely undertreated population of patients, has fuelled the interest for the tricuspid valve. Growing evidence and new concepts have contributed to revise obsolete and misleading perceptions around the right side of the heart. New definitions, classifications, and a better understanding of the disease pathophysiology and phenotypes, as well as their associated patient journeys have profoundly and durably changed the landscape of tricuspid disease. A number of registries and a recent randomized controlled pivotal trial provide preliminary guidance for decision-making. TTVI seem to be very safe and effective in selected patients, although clinical benefits beyond improved quality of life remain to be demonstrated. Even if more efforts are needed, increased disease awareness is gaining momentum in the community and supports the establishment of dedicated expert valve centres. This review is summarizing the achievements in the field and provides perspectives for a less invasive management of a no-more-forgotten disease.

Right ventricle assessment before tricuspid valve interventions

In the latest ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the Management of Valvular Heart Disease, right ventricular dilatation and dysfunction, severe pulmonary hypertension and tricuspid annulus dilatation were reported to be the most important parameters to consider in patient selection for tricuspid valve interventions. Indeed, comprehensive right ventricular assessment is crucial in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation who may benefit from transcatheter or surgical procedures. However, the only guideline parameter considered for intervention has been tricuspid annular dilatation in the presence of at least mild to moderate tricuspid regurgitation, with no other right ventricular markers used in the decision-making process for invasive treatment. Notably, challenges in the assessment of right ventricular function may limit establishing thresholds for defining right ventricular dysfunction. The aim of this review is to summarize current evidence on the prognostic significance of right ventricular function in patients with tricuspid regurgitation undergoing percutaneous or surgical interventions.

Right ventricular remodeling and clinical outcomes following transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention

AIMS

Characterize the impact of residual tricuspid regurgitation (TR) on right ventricle (RV) remodeling and clinical outcomes after transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention.

METHODS

We performed a single-center retrospective analysis of transcatheter tricuspid valve repair (TTVr) or replacement (TTVR) patients. The primary outcomes were longitudinal tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), fractional area change (FAC), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), and RV dimensions (RVd). We used multivariable linear mixed models to evaluate association with replacement versus repair and degree of TR reduction with changes in these echo measures over time. Multivariable Cox regression was used to identify associations between changes in these echo measures and a composite clinical outcome of death, heart failure hospitalization, or re-do tricuspid valve intervention.

RESULTS

We included a total of 61 patients; mean age was 77.5 ± 11.7 and 62% were female. TTVR was performed in 25 (41%) and TTVr in 36 (59%). Initially, 72% (n = 44) had ≤ severe TR and 28% (n = 17) had massive or torrential TR. The median number of follow up echos was 2: time to 1st follow-up was 50 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 20, 91) and last follow-up was 147 (IQR: 90, 327). Median TR reduction was 1 (IQR: 0, 2) versus 4 (IQR: 3, 6) grades in TTVr versus TTVR (p < 0.0001). In linear mixed modeling, TTVR was associated with decline in TAPSE and PASP, and TR reduction was associated with decreased RVd. In multivariable Cox regression, greater RVd was associated with the clinical outcome (hazard ratio: 9.27, 95% confidence interval: 1.23-69.88, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Greater TR reduction is achieved by TTVR versus TTVr, which is in turn associated with RV reverse remodeling. RV dimension in follow-up is associated with increased risk of a composite outcome of death, heart failure hospitalization, or re-do tricuspid valve intervention.

Bicaval TricValve Implantation in Patients With Severe Symptomatic Tricuspid Regurgitation: 1-Year Follow-Up Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Several orthotopic transcatheter strategies have been developed to treat severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR); however, many patients are deemed unsuitable. Caval valve implantation with the TricValve system addresses this unmet need.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to determine the impact of TricValve on systemic congestion and quality of life (QOL) at 1 year.

METHODS

The TRICUS (Safety and Efficacy of the TricValve® Transcatheter Bicaval Valves System in the Superior and Inferior Vena Cava in Patients With Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation) and TRICUS EURO studies were prospective, nonblinded, nonrandomized, single-arm trials representing the early-in-man experience of the TricValve system in NYHA functional class III or IV severe TR patients, optimally medicated and ineligible for open heart surgery, with significant caval backflow. The primary endpoint was QOL metrics and functional status. The 1-year results of the combined cohort are described here.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients were included. Mean age was 76.2 ± 7.5 years, 81.0% were women, and the TRISCORE (risk score model for isolated tricuspid valve surgery) was 5.3 ± 1.3. Clinical improvement at 1 year was achieved in 42 (95.5%) patients, measured by (at least 1 of) an increase in ≥15 points from baseline in 12-item Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score, improvement to NYHA functional class to I or II, or an increase ≥40 m in the 6-minute walk test. There were 3 (6.8%) deaths at 1-year follow-up (1 cardiovascular), and the heart failure rehospitalization rate was 29.5%. Stent fracture, conduction system disturbances, or clinically significant leaflet thrombosis were not detected. Abolished hepatic vein backflow was achieved and persisted in 63.8% of the patients, contributing towards a reduction in congestive symptoms, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels (P = 0.032), and diuretic treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Caval valve implantation with the TricValve system associated with meaningful 1-year clinical improvements in terms of QOL along with relatively low mortality rates. (TRICUS Study - Safety and Efficacy of the TricValve® Device; NCT03723239).

Update on Transcatheter Treatment of Mitral and Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Mitral and tricuspid regurgitation represents a clinical challenge. They are associated with a poor prognosis, and many patients are not eligible for conventional surgery. Transcatheter therapies have been the focus of numerous studies and devices over the past decade. Here, we provide a summary of current options for transcatheter treatment of these 2 entities.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies have demonstrated the benefits of edge-to-edge repair for increasing numbers of patients. Encouraging early results with transcatheter valve replacement are also becoming available. To date, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair is currently the first-line transcatheter treatment for both mitral and tricuspid regurgitation for many patients who are not candidates for surgery. A number of transcatheter replacement devices are under development and clinical investigation but, for the most part, their current use is limited to compassionate cases or clinical trials.