[Rheumatic tricuspid stenosis--a clinical overview with surgical considerations]

73 patients are reported on who ad different and multiple valvular heart lesions, always including tricuspid stenosis (TS). The pre- and postoperative hemodynamic and clinical findings are presented (as well as the results of surgical treatment). The conclusion is arrived at that TS is frequently involved in rheumatic valvular heart disease and that it needs special attention. It should be confirmed by simultaneous measurements of the right ventricular and right atrial pressures. The surgical results are encouraging. Tricuspid commissurotomy is the favored method, leaving the least gradient. Surgical mortality was 2.7%. Postoperative clinical improvement could be seen in 96% of all patients.