Tricuspid valve repair for biopsy-induced regurgitation after cardiac transplantation.

Abstract

Tricuspid regurgitation is a recognized complication of cardiac transplantation. Damage to the tricuspid valve and subvalvar apparatus has been suggested as a possible cause. We have repaired the tricuspid valves of 2 patients in whom severely symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation developed after transplantation. Gore-Tex sutures were used to replace ruptured chordae anchoring the septal and posterior leaflets. The repair was supported with a Carpentier-Edwards ring. The repairs remain durable at 2 year and 3 years. Both patients demonstrated a similar lesion that we believe to be characteristic of endomyocardial biopsy-induced tricuspid regurgitation.