Transcatheter Tricuspid Repair Shows Survival and Hospitalization Benefit in Trial

A German trial known as TRIC-I-HF found that transcatheter tricuspid valve repair significantly reduced the combined risk of death and heart failure hospitalization over three years compared with medical therapy alone. The procedure also improved quality of life, with a number needed to treat of four to prevent one death or hospitalization at one year. Researchers presented the findings at the European Society of Cardiology Congress and published them in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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The trial enrolled 360 patients with symptomatic severe tricuspid regurgitation, randomized 2:1 to transcatheter repair or medical therapy alone. Participants averaged 80 years old, with three-quarters in advanced heart failure classes and over half hospitalized for heart failure in the preceding year. Nearly all procedures used transcatheter edge-to-edge repair, performed at 29 experienced German heart-valve centers.

The survival and hospitalization benefit emerged early, with outcomes continuing to diverge over time. Researchers attributed the strong results to the