Thrombotic lesions of the tricuspid valve in a newborn: surgical management

Thrombotic lesions on the leaflets of the tricuspid valve in a premature infant with an anatomically normal heart are described. The diagnosis was made by two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. No etiologic explanation could be obtained from the history and clinical findings. The newborn had no infection, no antithrombin deficiency, and no indwelling catheter through either a peripheral, central or umbilical vein. The multiple masses were successfully removed by surgery under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest at 1 month of age. The child is well, without neurological deficit, and is developing normally.