Tricuspid valve replacement: bioprostheses are preferable.

Abstract Tricuspid valve replacement (TVR) is rarely undertaken, most surgeons preferring to use conservative tricuspid valve procedures. Thus, limited data are available in patients following TVR. The purpose of this study was to analyze the early and late results in 87 patients (52 tissue valves, 35 mechanical prostheses) who underwent TVR between January 1973 and September 1996. The patient group comprised 74 (85%) females and 13 (15%) males; mean (+/- SD) age was 59.4 +/- 12.8 years; range: 15 to 81 years). Forty-four patients (51%) had undergone at least one previous cardiac operation. There were 19 (23%) isolated TVRs, 43 (49%) triple valve replacements, and 25 (29%) double valve replacements. Total cumulative follow up was 707 patient-years (pt-yr) (tissue valves 393 pt-yr, mechanical valves 314 pt-yr); mean follow up was 8.1 years (range: 0 to 23.6 years). The early (30-day) mortality rate was 10.3% (n = 9; tissue 7, mechanical 2, p = 0.28). Logistic regression identified prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (p