Successful tricuspid valve replacement and pulmonary valvulotomy for carcinoid heart disease

A case of successful tricuspid valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis and pulmonary valvulotomy for carcinoid heart disease is reported. The patient was a 61 years old women. The primary tumor was in the terminal ileum. Liver metastasis and carcinoid syndrome were present since 8 years. After cardiac surgery, the patient survived 38 months and late death was related to disseminated metastasis. Even in case of metastasis, carcinoid tumor is slow growing. Without cardiac operation for correction of valvular lesions, terminal symptoms and death may often be related to cardiac operation for correction of valvular lesions, terminal symptoms and death may often be related to cardiac failure rather than to tumoral growth. Thus, even in presence of metastasis, cardiac surgery may be mandatory to improve both quality of life and survival.