Tricuspid Regurgitation Treatment & Management
- Author: Mary C Mancini, MD, PhD; Chief Editor: Richard A Lange, MD more...
Medical Care
For patients in whom tricuspid regurgitation is secondary to left-sided heart failure, treatment centers on adequate control of fluid overload and failure symptoms (eg, diuretic therapy).
Surgical Care
Surgical intervention is indicated when structural deformity of the valve (eg, Ebstein anomaly) exists, when the valve is destroyed by bacterial endocarditis, or when ventricular dilatation is severe and uncontrolled with medical therapy.
Tricuspid regurgitation associated with mitral valve disease and pulmonary hypertension
Patients with mild tricuspid regurgitation do not require intervention.
As pulmonary vascular pressures fall with successful mitral valve therapy, the tricuspid regurgitation tends to disappear.
Severe regurgitation has been successfully treated with tricuspid annuloplasty.
Tricuspid valve replacement for severe tricuspid regurgitation can be performed with an acceptable operative mortality if patients undergo surgery before the onset of advanced heart failure symptoms.[11]
Organic disease of the tricuspid valve
Corrective measures for organic disease of the tricuspid valve usually involve valve replacement. Because of the increased incidence of mechanical prosthetic valve thrombosis in this low-flow position, a bioprosthetic valve is preferable.
Tricuspid valve endocarditis
Total excision of the tricuspid valve without immediate replacement is recommended. The diseased valvular tissue is excised to eradicate the endocarditis, and antibiotic treatment is continued. Most patients tolerate loss of the tricuspid valve well for years.
If right heart failure symptoms persist despite medical management and the infections have been controlled, an artificial valve can be inserted.
Ebstein anomaly
If this anomaly produces symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation, then tricuspid valve repair or replacement is indicated.[12, 13, 14, 1, 15]
Prior tricuspid valve surgery and significant stenosis and/or regurgitation of a bioprosthetic tricuspid valve or a right atrium to right ventricle (RA-to–RV) conduit
In selected cases, patients who have undergone prior tricuspid valve surgery may be candidates for percutaneous tricuspid valve replacement.[16]
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