DEVEGA SEMICIRCULAR ANNULOPLASTY FOR TRICUSPID-VALVE REGURGITATION

Moderate to severe functional tricuspid regurgitation was found in 26% of cardiac surgical patients with mitral or aortic valvular disease at Tri-Service General Hospital in Taiwan. Almost all patients were able to receive de Vega's annuloplasties. After a mean follow-up period of 20 months, none of the 63 patients had moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation. There was no heart block or right atrial thrombosis; the single late death was not related to the heart disease. De Vega's tricuspid annuloplasty is considered to be a safe, effective, and durable procedure in the treatment of functional tricuspid regurgitation. Compared with tricuspid valve replacement and other types of annuloplasty, the de Vega is the first choice here.