Surgical Treatment for Isolated Tricuspid Valve Endocarditis - Long-Term Follow-up at a Single Institution

Background: Systematic long-term data on tricuspid valve (TV) endocarditis are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of surgery for isolated TV endocarditis. Methods and Results: A total of 637 patients who underwent TV surgery between June 1996 and September 2012 at Hannover Medical School were retrospectively investigated. Of the 637 patients, 33 (14 female, mean age, 49+/-21 years) underwent isolated TV surgery for endocarditis: biological TV replacement, n=14; mechanical TV replacement, n=4; TV reconstruction, n=15. A total of 28 cases were associated with i.v. drug abuse (n=14) or pacemaker infection (n=14). Staphylococcus (S.) aureus was the most common microorganism detected on preoperative blood culture. Mean follow-up was 6.0+/-4.1 years (83% completed). Three patients (9%) died during the first 30 postoperative days. Survival at 1, 5 and 10 years was 88%, 73%, and 73%, respectively. Freedom from reoperation was 100%, 95%, and 88%, respectively. During follow-up New York Heart Association class improved significantly, and echocardiography identified remaining TV insufficiency grade >=parallel to degrees only in 2 patients. Statistical analysis identified advanced age, logistic EuroSCORE and positive blood culture for S. aureus as significant risk factors for long-term mortality. Conclusions: Isolated TV endocarditis is strongly associated with i.v. drug abuse or pacemaker infection. Long-term outcome is acceptable, independent of the surgical procedure.