Surgical indications and techniques
Moderate-or-severe TR was always corrected during MV surgery. Mild TR
was treated if systolic dimension of the annulus was >24
mm9. All patients underwent surgery through a median
sternotomy. TV repair was accomplished using De Vega annuloplasty,
flexible bands (Sovering MiniBand, SMB50, Sorin, Saluggia, Italy;
Cosgrove-Edwards, Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA; Duran,
Medtronic, Inc, Minneapolis, MN, USA), or a rigid incomplete ring (MC3,
Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA). Myocardial protection was
achieved using intermittent warm antegrade and retrograde blood
cardioplegia.