When is it a problem and when is it not?
The Tricuspid Valve and Tricuspid Regurgitation
The tricuspid valve separates the right atrium from the right ventricle.
After the right ventricle finishes contraction and begins relaxing, pressures rapidly drop in the right ventricle.
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Meanwhile, pressures have risen in the right atrium.
The time period when the ventricles relax and fill with blood is calleddiastole.
At the end of diastole, the right atrium contracts pumping more blood into the right ventricle.
With tricuspid regurgitation, the tricuspid valve fails to close completely.
Some healthcare providers term this tricuspid insufficiency and some term it tricuspid regurgitation (TR).
When tricuspid regurgitation is identified, it is important to determine the severity.
Causes
Tricuspid regurgitation that is medically significant can have two general kinds of underlying causes.
First, the valve itself can become damaged because of some disease process.
However, if the tricuspid regurgitation is severe, it may directly produce symptoms.
Ifright-sided heart failuredevelops, pronounceddyspnea(shortness of breath), weakness anddizzinessmay occur.
Diagnosis
Tricuspid regurgitation is diagnosed with an echocardiogram.
At that point, a management plan can be developed.
Management
The most important step in managing tricuspid regurgitation is to identify and treat the underlying cause.
This is especially important with functional tricuspid regurgitation, where the tricuspid valve itself is fundamentally normal.
Functional tricuspid regurgitation is most often brought on by pulmonary artery hypertension.
Treating pulmonary hypertension can substantially improve the tricuspid regurgitation.
The only real management is periodic re-evaluations with a cardiologist.
Surgery should become an option if the tricuspid regurgitation itself is judged to be causing significant symptoms.
In this situation both valves are dealt with during one operation.
This, by far, is the most common reason for performing tricuspid valve surgery.
Cardiologists have developed methods to repair tricuspid valves without the need for open heart surgery.
These tricuspid clips are implanted by threading a tube into the leg veins and up into the right ventricle.
Fortunately, this is usually not a difficult or time-consuming process.
Surgery for tricuspid regurgitation is not commonly required.
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