Related Experiment Videos
Tricuspid valve replacement after cardiac transplantation
S Ichikawa1, Y Takeuchi, Y Suda
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Daini Hospital, Japan.
The Japanese Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery : Official Publication of the Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery = Nihon Kyobu Geka Gakkai Zasshi
|November 18, 2000
Summary
Severe tricuspid regurgitation after heart transplant can occur, requiring valve replacement. Damage to the tricuspid valve
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Transplantation Medicine
Background:
- Tricuspid regurgitation is common post-cardiac transplantation, usually mild.
- The causes of tricuspid regurgitation after transplantation are not fully understood.
- Surgical experience with tricuspid valve replacement in transplant patients is limited.
Observation:
- A case of progressively severe tricuspid regurgitation developed after cardiac transplantation.
- Surgical findings included ruptured chordae and partially flail leaflets of the tricuspid valve.
- Damage to the tricuspid subvalvular apparatus, possibly from endomyocardial biopsy, was suspected.
Findings:
- Tricuspid valve replacement was ultimately required due to severe regurgitation.
- A 31-mm Carpentier-Edwards porcine valve was implanted.
- Porcine valve chosen to allow future right-heart catheterization and endomyocardial biopsy, avoiding recurrence risk.
Implications:
- This case highlights a potential complication of cardiac transplantation.
- It emphasizes the need to consider the tricuspid valve's subvalvular apparatus.
- Discusses surgical choices for tricuspid valve replacement in this specific patient population.