The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 58, 594-595, Copyright © 1994 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
1987: Adjustable annuloplasty for tricuspid insufficiency. Updated in 1994
MC Oz, DJ Goldstein and EA Rose
Division of Cardiac Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York.
De Vega described a technique for tricuspid annuloplasty using synthetic
suture to reduce the size of the dilated annulus. We present our experience
with an adjustable modification of de Vega's suture annuloplasty technique.
The records of 12 patients followed for 15 to 30 months were reviewed. All
10 survivors had a significant drop in right-sided filling pressure
(average, 39% decrease) and an associated improvement in clinical status.
The 2 deaths in the series were not related to persistent tricuspid
insufficiency. This technique represents a reliable, rapid, and readily
teachable method for the surgical management of tricuspid insufficiency.