Any tricuspid disease not amenable to repair thus necessitating replacement is an unfortunate situation since both the short and long-term results of valve replacement are suboptimal in regard to those of left-sided valve replacements, probably due to different structural and geometrical characteristics of right ventricle and the low-pressure venous system hemodynamics. Etiology, clinical presentation and pulmonary vascular hemodynamics are major determinants of the outcome.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of timing and techniques of tracheostomy on mortality and morbidity in cardiovascular surgery patients. Methods: Between January 2000 and October 2007, a total of 19,559 cardiac and vascular operations were performed in our hospital, and 205 of these patients (1.04%) who underwent a tracheostomy procedure were included in this retrospective study. Results: Surgical tracheostomy (ST) was employed in 134 (65.4%) and percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) in 71 (34.6%) of the cases. There were 17 complications related to all tracheostomy procedures in 15 (7.3%) patients. Bleeding, requiring surgical intervention, occurred in five (3.7%) ST patients and in one (1.4%) PT patient. Cardiac arrest related to the procedure occurred in two (1.5%) ST patients. Pneumothorax occurred in three (2.2%) ST patients and in one (1.4%) PT patient, subcutaneous emphysema in three (2.2%) ST patients and in one (1.4%) PT patient, and tracheoesophageal fistula in one (0.7%) ST patient (p > 0.05). The postoperative infection rate was significantly lower, and cooperation of the patients, postoperative patient mobilization, and oral feeding rates were higher in the early tracheostomy group. The multifactorial mortality rates of early (

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