Clinical significance of increased tricuspid valve incompetence following implantation of ventricular leads.

Purpose: Cardiac rhythm management devices (CRMD) require a ventricular lead to be placed across the tricuspid valve. Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is an under-recognized clinical complication of lead implantation and its clinical significance is unknown. We studied the incidence of hospitalizations for congestive heart failure (CHF) exacerbation among patients with worsening TR after ventricular lead implantation.

Methods: We reviewed 148 patients (age 68 ± 15) that received a CRMD. TR and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) measured by Doppler echocardiography before and after CRMD implantation were analyzed. Hospitalizations for CHF exacerbation post-implantation were counted.

Results: Follow-up was 32 ± 14 months. Ninety-nine (67%) patients had no change, 24 (16%) slight, and 9 (6%) significant increase in TR after CRMD implantation, while 13 (9%) patients had slight and 3 (2%) significant improvement. Patients with a significant increase in TR had higher incidence of hospitalizations (1.7 ± 0.5) compared to patients with slight (0.8 ± 1; p = 0.006) or no increase (0.5 ± 1; p = 0.0002) in TR. Patients with significant increase in TR had a greater change in PASP (25 mmHg; p = 0.002) after device implantation compared to those with a slight (10 mmHg; p = 0.002) or no increase (0.7 mmHg; p = 0.17).

Conclusion: Increased TR following CRMD implantation is relatively common (33%) and correlated with subsequent risk of hospitalization for heart failure. A preventive strategy and close monitoring for development or worsening of CHF after CRMD implantation may help prevent hospital admissions.