Tricuspid regurgitation


Tricuspid insufficiency (TI), a valvular heart disease also called tricuspid regurgitation (TR), refers to the failure of the heart's tricuspid valve to close properly during systole. As a result, with each heart beat some blood passes from the right ventricle to the right atrium, the opposite of the normal direction. Tricuspid regurgitation occurs in roughly less than 1% of people and is usually asymptomatic.

Causes:

[A] Primary:
·         Rheumatic heart disease.
·         Endocarditis, particularly in intravenous drug-users.
·         Ebstein’s congenital anomaly.
[B] Secondary:
·         Right ventricular dilatation due to chronic LHF.
·         Right ventricular infraction.
·         Pulmonary hypertension (e.g. co pulmonary)

Clinical features:

Symptoms: Symptoms are usually non-specific and related to reduced forward flow (tiredness) & venous congestion (oedema, hepatic enlargement)

Signs:

1.      Raised JVP.
2.      Large systolic wave in JVP ( CV wave replaces the x descent)
3.      Systolic pulsation over the liver.
4.      Pansystolic murmur (at left sterna edge): Louder on inspiration.

Investigations:

1.      Chest X-ray: Dilated right atrium & right ventricle.
2.      Echo:
·         Right ventricular dilatation.
·         Tricuspid valve may be structurally abnormal (Rh disease)
·         Estimate PA pressure from Doppler.

Diagnosis: Diagnosis is usually made by echocardiography identifying tricuspid prolapse or flail. The finding of a pulsatile liver and/or the presence of prominent CV waves in the jugular pulse is also essentially diagnostic.
Electrocardiography assists in the diagnosis, indicating enlargement of right ventricle and atrium.

Management:

[A] TR due to right ventricular dilatation:
·         Diuretics and vasodilators or
·         Mitral valve replacement.

[B] Sever organic tricuspid valve damage & elevated pulmonary artery pressure require tricuspid valve repair (annuloplasty or placation) & very occasionally tricuspid valve replacement may be necessary.

Reference:
1.      Davidson’s Principles and practice of Medicine, 21st edition.
2.      Wikipedia the free encyclopedia.

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