Vena Contracta Width as a Predictor of Adverse Outcomes in Patients with Severe Isolated Tricuspid Regurgitation

Background: The clinical outcomes and predictors of outcomes in isolated tricuspid regurgitation (TR) are poorly defined. The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of outcomes in severe isolated TR. Methods: Seventy-four patients (mean age, 63 +/- 12 years; 34 men) with severe isolated TR who satisfied the criteria of (1) TR jet area > 30% of right atrial area or TR jet area > 10 cm(2) and (2) a plethora of inferior vena cava or systolic flow reversal of the hepatic vein were retrospectively analyzed. The primary end points were hospitalization for worsening heart failure, tricuspid valve (TV) surgery, and cardiovascular death. Results: During the median follow-up period of 53 months, 25 events occurred (three cardiovascular deaths, nine TV surgeries, and 13 hospitalizations for worsening heart failure). Univariate Cox analysis showed that younger age, female gender, larger effective regurgitant orifice, vena contracta width (VCW), and increased right atrial and right ventricular size were associated with cardiovascular events. Increased TV tethering distance and tethering area were also associated with cardiovascular events. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, larger VCW (hazard ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.57, P < 0.01) was an independent predictor of cardiovascular events. Compared with patients with VCW <= 7 mm, those with VCW > 7 mm had poorer long-term outcomes (adjusted hazard ratio, 19.9; P < .01). Increased VCW was also an independent predictor of cardiovascular death and TV surgery (hazard ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.45; P = .04). Conclusions: In severe isolated TR, VCW is a powerful independent predictor of adverse outcomes. Adverse outcomes were considerable for VCW > 7 mm, which suggests that quantification of TR by Doppler echocardiography is crucial for estimating prognosis. TV surgery might be considered for patients with severe isolated TR with VCW > 7 mm. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2011; 24: 1013-9.)