Transjugular Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Implantation of Coronary Stent System for Creating a Rat Tricuspid Regurgitation Model.

We aimed to establish a rat TR model to further investigate the mechanisms of right heart remodeling and organ damage induced by TR. Intervention group rats (n = 6) underwent coronary stent system implantation via transjugular approach. The control group (n = 6) underwent the same procedure, except for coronary stent implantation. All rats survived at 8 weeks follow-up postoperatively. TR occurred immediately after the implantation of coronary stent in the intervention group. The right ventricular fractional area change (FAC) decreased by 33.9% compared with baseline from 0.59 ± 0.11% to 0.39 ± 0.10% (P = 0.005) and the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) decreased by 36.8% from 2.42 ± 0.31 mm to 1.53 ± 0.45 mm at 8 weeks (P < 0.001). This animal model would be suitable to further investigate the mechanisms of right ventricular remodeling and other organ damage associated with TR.