What Is Tricuspid Valve Surgery?
The Tricuspid Valve is located between the heart’s right upper chamber (atrium) and lower chamber (ventricle). Its role is to make sure blood flows the correct way through the heart, from the right atrium down to the ventricle. The tricuspid valve has three leaflets, or flaps, that control blood flow and direction.
In some people, this valve does not function correctly, and they are said to have TRICUSPID VALVE DISEASE. Tricuspid valve disease is rare compared with other types of valve disease.
The most common form of tricuspid valve disease is TRICUSPID STENOSIS, which means the valve leaflets are stiff and do not open all the way. This makes the valve narrow and restricts the blood flow.
Another form of valve disease is TRICUSPID REGURGITATION. Patients with this condition have leaflets that do not close all the way and blood leaks backwards across the valve instead of flowing into the ventricle. These conditions cause the heart to pump harder to move blood through the body.
Having Tricuspid Valve surgery while the disease is still in its early stages may prevent more severe, permanent heart damage. Your cardiologist will talk with you about the benefits and risks of surgical procedures and help you decide at what point you should have surgery. If an echocardiograph shows that the disease is severe and involves other heart valves, early surgery is usually recommended.
There are two kinds of valve surgery:
