Objective To analyze the medium-and long-term r esults of tricuspid valve replacement(TVR), to summarize the experience in opera tive therapy for tricuspid valve disease. Methods From January 1998 to May 2006, sixty seven patients had undergone TVR. The etiology was rheumatic disease in 25 cases, congenital disease in 37 cases, degenerative disease in 1 case, infective endocarditis in 3 cases, a nd cardiac tumor in 1 case. All operations were performed under general anesthes i a and by cardiopulmonary bypass. Bioprostheses was replaced in 28 patients, whil e mechanical valve was replaced in 39 patients. Associated procedure included mi tral valve replacement in 13 cases, mitral valve replacement and aortic valve replac ement in 12 cases, repair of ventricular septal defect in 1 case, repair of atri al septal defect in 1 case, and radioablation of atrial fibrillation in 3 case s. Results The operative mortality was 11.94% (8/67)，among these patients , 6 cases died of serious heart failure,1 case died of ventricular fibrillation, 1 case died of multi organ failure. During follow-up, 1 patient died of biopro thesis dysfunction 1 year after the operation, 1 patient died of cerebral emboli s m 6 years after the operation. Through statistical analysis, it showed that the mortality of TVR in rheumatic tricuspid valve disease was higher than that in co ngenital tricuspid valve disease ［5.56%（2/36）vs. 24.00% (6/25); χ2=4.425 , P=0.036］; the mortality in second time operation was higher than that in first time operation ［30.00%（3/10）vs. 8.77% (5/57);χ2=3.646，P=0.033 ］; while there was no significant difference in immediate and long-term result s with different choice of bioprosthetic or mechanical valve in TVR (χ2=0.002 , P=0.961). Conclusion Operative an d follow-up mortality is high in the TVR, valve replac ement is the last selection for the treatment of serious tricuspid disease, appr opriate operative technique and perioperative therapy is the key for success o f the operation.
Valve replacement is one of the way to treat valvular heart disease. Valve replacement with bioprostheses, which occurs low rate of bleeding and thromboembolism events, needs no lifelong anticoagulation. However, the life of bioprostheses is limited. Leaflet tear, leaf calcification, and artificial valve infective endocarditis may occur with using a bioprostheses These adverse events appear early to some patients who fail to achieve the expected service life of bioprostheses. This review mainly summarizes factors influencing early valve degeneration(EVD) of bioprostheses to provide suggestion in clinic.