Predictors of Tricuspid Valve Repair in Patients with Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation

Abstract

The tricuspid valve is composed of three leaflets; anterior, posterior and septal leaflets. Many diseases affect the tricuspid valve and its supporting structures. These include rhematic, infective, ischemic, myxomatous and neoplastic diseases. Some diseases can cause functional tricuspid regurgitation such as left sided cardiac valve diseases, myocardial infarction, right ventricular failure and pulmonary hypertension. During systole, the normal tricuspid annulus shortens, but when the right ventricle dilates, due to left sided valve disease, the tricuspid ring dilates and fails to control the blow flow across the valve, so tricuspid regurgitation happens. Tricuspid regurgitation occurs due to rheumatic affection of mitral and/or aortic valves. Tricuspid regurgitation rarely occurs without affection of other heart valves. Diagnosis of tricuspid regurgitation can be done by history and clinical examination of the patient. Accurate diagnosis is by echocardiography and become sure intraoperatively by direct examination of the valve. Tricuspid valve repair can be done with the use of sutures to decrease the annular diameter of the valve or by using a synthetic ring to support the valve annulus. In this study, we evaluated the degree of tricuspid regurgitation pre, intra and postoperatively. Patients were of all age groups. There was rheumatic affection of the mitral and/or aortic valve.