Pulmonary valve regurgitation

Pulmonary valve regurgitation, if trivial to mild, is so common that it is considered physiologic.

Mild pulmonary regurgitation is extremely useful echocardiographically, as the Doppler velocity of the regurgitant trace may be used to predict mean and end-diastolic pulmonary artery pressures.

Pulmonary valve regurgitation is commonly noted in adults, and recognized originating from the pulmonic valve as turbulent flow traveling into the ventricular outflow tract during diastole.

There are several pathologic causes of pulmonary valve regurgitation, including its association with pulmonary valve stenosis.

Dilation of the pulmonary annulus, which can be idiopathic or due to pulmonary artery dilation, amplitude (less than 6 mm) with thickening of the leaflets.

Pulmonic valve regurgitation can be caused by numerous cardiac pathologies, including:
*Pulmonary hypertension
*Bacterial endocarditis
*Pulmonary valvotomy
*Congenital defects
*Carcinoid heart disease
*Trauma
Pulmonary valve regurgitation

Tricuspid atresia

Tricuspid atresia is a rare defect (less than 1% of coronary heart disease) that is characterized by complete atresia of the tricuspid valve. This lesion leads to severe hypoplasia or absence of the right ventricle.

It is the third most common cyanotic congenital great defect and is the most common cause of cyanosis with left ventricular hypertrophy.

Tricuspid atresia can be divided into two types:
*Tricuspid atresia with normally related great arteries
*Tricuspid atresia with transportation of the great arteries

The most common type of tricuspid atresia, muscular variety is characterized by a dimple or a localized fibrous thickening in the floor of the right atrium.

In tricuspid atresia, blood cannot flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle; therefore, pulmonary blood flow is greatly reduced and dependent on other shunts.

The right ventricle generally is hypoplastic and inflow portion of the right ventricle is missing.

The clinical features of tricuspid atresias are dependent on the degree of pulmonary stenosis present. Most commonly, neonates will have significant pulmonary stenosis or even pulmonary atresia.
Tricuspid atresia