Surgical intervention for tricuspid valve endocarditis: vegetectomy, valve excision, or valve replacement?

Illegal drug use predisposes the intravenous drug abuser to bacterial endocarditis, primarily of the tricuspid valve. The prevalence and clinical symptomatology of tricuspid valve endocarditis is reviewed, as are surgical options available to these patients. Nursing care issues that are discussed include postoperative hemodynamic monitoring, fluid resuscitation, and the psychosocial elements surrounding these patients.