Isolated tricuspid valve regurgitation

This thesis investigated isolated tricuspid valve regurgitation. The tricuspid valve is the valve that separates the right atrium from the right ventricle. This valve has been disregarded for decades, but it has been demonstrated that tricuspid valve regurgitation was associated with reduced survival. Therefore, the aim of the thesis was to assess patients affected by tricuspid regurgitation, define optimal timing and surgical treatment. The thesis analysed patients that underwent tricuspid valve surgery, either repair or replacement. The objective was to try and identify possible predictors of a favourable outcome, in order to determine the ideal preoperative assessment and optimal timing for intervention. Both in-hospital and mid-term outcomes of patients undergoing isolated tricuspid valve surgery were analysed, together with validation of a new surgical risk score. The study showed that in selected patients isolated tricuspid valve surgery is at low risk, with good short and long-term outcomes.