OBJECTIVE. For many years, functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) was considered negligible after treatment of left-sided heart valve surgery. The aim of the present network meta-analysis is to summarize the results of four approaches in order to establish the possible gold standard. METHODS A systematic search was performed to identify all publications reporting the outcomes of four approach for FTR, not tricuspid annuloplasty (no TA), suture annuloplasty (SA), flexible (FRA), rigid rings (RRA). All studies reporting at least one the four endpoints (early and late mortality, early and late moderate or more TFR) were included in a Bayesian network meta-analysis. RESULTS There were 31 included studies with 9,663 patients. Aggregate early mortality was 5.3% no TA, 7.2% SA, 6.6% FRA and 6.4% RRA; Early TR moderate-or-more was 9.6%, 4.8%, 4.6% and 3.8%; Late mortality was 22.5%, 18.2%, 11.9% and 11.9%; Late TR moderate-or-more was 27.9%, 18.3%, 14.3% and 6.4%. Rigid or semirigid ring annuloplasty was the most effective approach for decreasing the risk of late moderate or more FTR (–85% vs. no TA; –64% vs. SA; –32% vs. FRA). Concerning late mortality, no significant differences were found among different surgical approaches, however, flexible or rigid rings reduced significantly the risk of late mortality (78% and 47%, respectively) compared with not performing TA mortality. No differences were found for early outcomes. CONCLUSIONS. Ring annuloplasty seems to offer better late outcomes compare to either suture annuloplasty or not performing TA. In particular rigid or semirigid rings provides more stable FTR across time.

In the last decades, the overlapping areas of intervention between cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists are rocketing, especially in the field of treatment of heart valve disease. But, while for the aortic valve the competition, even for non-high risk patients, has become tightened, in the context of mitral regurgitation, the surgery seems to not have competitors .In fact looking the results of studies published so far, a question arises: Is surgery the fair competitor for the Mitraclip? The meta-analysis by Abdul Khader et al summarized few evidences present in this field, only 11 observational studies and 1 randomized trial, providing an awesome response: “NO”. Is therefore not a case if recently two trials, MITRA-FR and COAPT, chose to use as competitor for MitraClip, more rightly, medical therapy instead of surgery. In conclusions, in case of mitral regurgitation, surgery is still largely the gold standard treatment and so MitraClip cannot be mention at all as competitor of surgery. It can be the right choice of case of primary MR where patients showed high risk for surgery. In case of secondary MR, especially with large and poor left ventricle we should wait for a clear answer on its role, yet.

In secondary mitral regurgitation, the concept that the mitral valve (MV) is an innocent bystander, has been challenged by many studies in the last decades. The MV is a living structure with an intrinsic plasticity that reacts to changes in stretch or in mechanical stress activating bio-humoral mechanisms that have, as purpose, the adaptation of the valve to the new environment. If the adaptation is balanced, the leaflets increase both surface and length and the chordae tendinae lengthen: the result is a valve with different characteristics, but able to avoid or to limit the regurgitation. However, if the adaptation is unbalanced, the leaflets and the chords do not change their size, but become stiffer and rigid, with moderate or severe regurgitation. These changes are mediated mainly by a cytokine, the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), which is able to promote the changes that the MV needs to adapt to a new hemodynamic environment. In general, mild TGF-β activation facilitates leaflet growth, excessive TGF-β activation, as after a myocardial infarction, results in profibrotic changes in the leaflets, with increased thickness and stiffness. The MV is then a plastic organism, that reacts to the external stimuli, trying to maintain its physiologic integrity. This review has the goal to unveil the secret life of the MV, to understand which stimuli can trigger its plasticity and to explain why the equation “large heart=moderate/severe mitral regurgitation” and “small heart=no/mild mitral regurgitation” does not work into the clinical practice.

Background. To share the results of a web-based expert panel discussion focusing on the management of acute and chronic aortic disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. A web-based expert panel discussion on April 18th 2020 where 8 experts were invited to share their current experience with COVID-19 disease touching several aspects of aortic medicine, was performed. After each talk, specific questions were asked to the online audience and results were immediately evaluated and shared with faculty and participants. Results. As of April 18 2020, 73.3% of the 87 participants from 26 different countries answered that overall less than 200 COVID positive patients have been treated in their respective institutions. Sixty-five percent reported that their hospital was well prepared for the pandemic. In 57.7 %, the percentage of infected health care professionals was below 5% whereas 23% reported 5-10% and 19.2% reported between 10 and 20%. Three percent reported to have seen aortic ruptures in primarily elective patients having been postponed because of the anticipated need to provide sufficient ICU capacity because of the pandemic. Nearly 70% reported a decrease of acute aortic syndromes since the start of the pandemic. Conclusions. The current COVID-19 pandemic has- led to a decrease of referrals of acute aortic syndromes in many services. The reluctance of patients seeking medical advice seems to be a major driver. The number of patients who have been postponed due to provisioning ICU resources but having experienced aortic rupture in the waiting period, is still low.

Background. We sought to determine the relationship between tricuspid right ventricular (RV) and tricuspid valve (TV) remodeling and late failure of tricuspid annuloplasty. Methods. From May 2009 to December 2015, 423 patients undergoing tricuspid annuloplasty (TA) for functional TR at a single were analyzed. Residual TR was defined TR moderate-or-more at discharge. Recurrent TR was defined TR-moderate-or-more at follow up. RV remodeling was defined RV dysfunction and/or dilatation. Results. Residual TR after TA was recorded in 54. Five-year freedom from TR recurrence was 86.3±2.3% for patients without residual TR vs 57.6±7.6% for patients with residual TR, p<0.001. Evaluating late results of 369 patients without residual TR, following risk factors were identified: preoperative pulmonary pressure, pre RV remodeling, pre TR and TV remodeling, functional mitral regurgitation. Conclusions. Prophylactic tricuspid annuloplasty should be encouraged among surgeons. TA at the time of left-sided valve surgery should take into consideration not only annular size, but also tethering severity and RV remodeling.