Transcatheter Caval Implantation for Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation

We describe the evolution of caval valve implantation (CAVI) as a treatment for severe symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in the high surgical risk patient.

Surgical treatment of severe TR is often limited by the high surgical risk of the patients who tend to develop severe secondary TR. Coaptation, annuloplasty, and orthotopic replacement strategies are all limited by annular and leaflet geometry, prior valve repair, and the presence of cardiac implantable device leads. CAVI appears to be a treatment strategy for severe symptomatic TR that improves functional capacity and quality of life while also reducing edema and ascites and improving cardiac output. Chronic kidney disease is a common comorbidity of patients with severe TR; zero-contrast CAVI has been described.

Severe TR is undertreated, yet common in the elderly structural heart disease population. The evolution of CAVI as a viable treatment for severe TR underscores the deleterious systemic contribution of backwards flow to morbidity and mortality. There are good safety and efficacy outcomes from registry data using the TricValve platform. Randomized controlled trials for CAVI versus medical therapy for severe TR are ongoing.