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(Circulation. 2002;106:I-51.)
© 2002 American Heart Association, Inc.

Surgery for Valvular Heart Disease

Carcinoid Heart Disease: Impact of Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Right Ventricular Function and Remodeling

Heidi M. Connolly, MD; Hartzell V. Schaff, MD; Charles J. Mullany, MB, BS; Martin D. Abel, MD; Patricia A. Pellikka, MD

From the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases (H.M.C., P.A.P.), Department of Anesthesiology (M.D.A.), and Division of Cardiovascular Surgery (H.V.S., C.J.M.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Correspondence to Dr Heidi M. Connolly, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street S.W., Rochester, MN 55905. E-mail connolly.heidi{at}mayo.edu

Background Carcinoid heart disease characteristically affects tricuspid (TV) and pulmonary valves (PV), and TV replacement is helpful in selected patients. There is uncertainty, however, regarding optimal surgical management of PV regurgitation.

Methods and Results We reviewed 22 patients having operation for carcinoid heart disease and compared those having TV and PV replacement (n=12), to those who underwent TV replacement and excision of the PV (n=10). Pre- and postoperative right ventricular (RV) size and dysfunction were assessed by consensus of 2 echocardiographers blinded to type of surgical treatment. RV dysfunction was graded as none (0), mild (1), moderate (2), or severe (3). RV size was graded as normal (0), or mild (1), moderate (2), or severe (3) enlargement. Preoperatively, RV size (2.2±0.8 [no PVR]versus 2.7±0.6 [with PVR], P=0.15), RV dysfunction (0.9±0.9 [no PVR]versus 1.4±0.7 [with PVR], P=0.14), and NYHA class were similar in the 2 groups. Postop RV size decreased inpatients with PVR, 2.7±0.6 to 1.7±1.0 (P=0.008), but did not change appreciably in those without PVR, 2.2±0.8 to 2.3±0.8 (P=0.67). There was no significant change in RV dysfunction after surgery, 1.4±0.7 to 1.8±0.9 with PVR (P=0.26) and 0.9±0.9 to 1.6±0.9 without PVR (P=0.07).

Conclusions PV replacement appears to have a beneficial effect on RV size in patients after surgery for carcinoid heart disease. This may have important implications for RV remodeling after PV replacement.

Key Words: valves • regurgitation • surgery • carcinoid