The effect of acute mechanical left ventricular unloading on ovine tricuspid annular size and geometry

Abstract

In healthy sheep hearts, left ventricular unloading increased septal-free wall RV diameter and reduced the length of the septal annulus, without altering the motion or geometry of the tricuspid annulus. Acute left ventricular unloading alone in healthy sheep was not sufficient to significantly perturb tricuspid annular dynamics and result in tricuspid insufficiency.