Biopsy-induced flail tricuspid leaflet and tricuspid regurgitation following orthotopic cardiac transplantation.

Damage to the tricuspid valve apparatus has been described after endomyocardial biopsy and may be associated with hemodynamically significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR). This study was performed to determine the prevalence of TR and flail tricuspid leaflet in cardiac transplant recipients and to evaluate the use of a 45 cm sheath placed directly in the right ventricle during endomyocardial biopsy to reduce the incidence of these complications. Echocardiograms and right heart catheterization data of 72 orthotopic cardiac transplant recipients were assessed for the presence of flail tricuspid leaflet, TR, and right-sided cardiac dysfunction 29 +/- 20 months (mean +/- SD) after transplantation. Moderate or severe TR was present in 23 patients (32%). Ten patients (14%) had flail tricuspid leaflet, with 7 of these having severe TR. Right atrial pressure (10 +/- 5 vs 6 +/- 5 mm Hg, p < 0.05) was higher, cardiac index (2.0 +/- 0.2 vs 2.5 +/- 0.7 L/min/m2, p < 0.05) was lower, and right-sided cardiac dimensions were greater in patients with flail leaflets than in those without flail leaflets. Both the prevalence of flail tricuspid leaflet (41% to 6%, p < 0.0001) and mean grade of TR (2 to 1, p < 0.0001) were reduced after the use of a 45 cm sheath. We conclude that TR secondary to biopsy-induced damage to the valve apparatus occurs in cardiac transplant recipients and is associated with signs of early right-sided heart failure. Use of a 45 cm sheath during endomyocardial biopsy reduces the prevalence of flail tricuspid leaflet and the severity of TR.