Tailored pre-procedural management and four-clip trans-catheter edge-to-edge repair procedure to efficiently treat torrential tricuspid regurgitation: a case report

The use of trans-catheter treatment for tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is currently increasing, especially trans-catheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER). However, patients with very large coaptation gaps are usually considered not eligible for this treatment.

We present the case of an 87-year-old man with symptomatic [New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional Class IV, right-sided heart failure signs] isolated torrential TR due to chronic atrial fibrillation who was initially considered not eligible for a tricuspid valve (TV) TEER because of a very large coaptation gap. A leadless pacemaker was implanted, and the patient received high doses of intravenous diuretics at home during 2 months. After heart team discussion, he was then considered suitable for a TEER procedure. A ‘zipping’ technique was performed, with the implantation of four TriClip devices, based on the anatomy of the TV and guided by fluoroscopy and bi- and tri-dimensional trans-oesophageal echocardiography, allowing an excellent procedural result (mild TR and mean TV gradient = 1 mmHg). At 6 months, TR was still mild, the patient reported a remarkable improvement (NYHA I, no heart failure signs), and 6-min walk test increased from 260 to 375 m.

This case underscores the need for heart valve centres with dedicated and experienced teams and networks of care to adequately manage patients with severe TR from pre-procedural choice of cardiac pacing type and optimization of diuretic therapy to customized interventions with appropriate number and location of clips according to the anatomy of the valve and the mechanism of TR, guided by high-quality bi- and tri-dimensional echocardiography.