Korean Circ J.  2004 Apr;34(4):415-419. 10.4070/kcj.2004.34.4.415.

A Case of Native Valve Salvage for 8 Years Longstanding Ruptured Tricuspid Valve after Blunt Chest Trauma

• Song HJ
• Nam SH
• Choi YJ
• Park SH
• Park SH
• Han JJ

• KMID: 2294369
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2004.34.4.415

Abstract

Although very rare, the incidence of tricuspid valve regurgitation after blunt chest trauma has risen in line with the increasing rate of car accidents and steering wheel trauma. It is easy to miss the diagnosis of tricuspid valve regurgitation following blunt chest trauma because most patients feel no symptoms at trauma, and the condition is sometimes overlooked for a long period of time due to its mild symptoms. A 49-year-old man suffered dyspnea on exertion for 1 month due to right heart failure 8 years after accidentally falling from a third floor. Preoperative echocardiography revealed severe tricuspid valve regurgitation resulting from prolapse of the anterior leaflet with annular dilatation. The patient underwent tricuspid valvuloplasty with a 36-mm Carpentier tricuspid ring. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography showed mild tricuspid valve regurgitation. We report a case of successful native valve salvage of ruptured tricuspid valve after blunt chest trauma, and present a review of the relevant literature.

Keyword

Blunt injuries; Tricuspid valve regurgitation; Echocardiography; Transesophageal echocardiography

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Dilatation
Dyspnea
Echocardiography
Echocardiography, Transesophageal
Heart Failure
Humans
Incidence
Middle Aged
Prolapse
Thorax*
Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency
Tricuspid Valve*
Wounds, Nonpenetrating