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

Tricuspid insufficiency symptoms

In tricuspid insufficiency, blood flows back into the right atrium during systole, reducing blood food to the lungs and left side of the heart.

Cardiac output also lessens. Fluid overload in the right side of the heart can eventually lead to right-side heart failure.

Symptoms of tricuspid insufficiency are primarily those of right-sided heart failure and the underlying disease process responsible for tricuspid insufficiency.

When right-sided heart failure occurs, symptoms such as edema, hepatomegaly, ascites develop. Tricuspid insufficiency produces a systolic murmur at the lower end of the sternum. The lover may pulsatile in tricuspid insufficiency.

Because symptoms are nonspecific and physical examination findings are often subtle, severe tricuspid insufficiency is most often diagnosed at the time of echocardiographic evaluation of left-side heart disease.

The ECG may show right atrial enlargement and right ventricular hypertrophy. Atrial fibrillation and right bundle branch block are common.
Tricuspid insufficiency symptoms

What is tricuspid insufficiency?

A mild degree of tricuspid insufficiency is found in up to 80% of patients. It is refers to an abnormal flow of blood from the right ventricle to the right atrium. The most common cause of tricuspid insufficiency is right ventricular failure.

Tricuspid insufficiency or tricuspid regurgitation or tricuspid incompetence is a common incidental echocardiographic finding and is readily detected using color-flow Doppler imaging.

In adolescents and young adults, most cases of tricuspid insufficiency are the result of congenital cardiac abnormalities.

In patients with rheumatic heart disease tricuspid insufficiency rarely occurs alone; it is usually associated with mitral or aortic valve disease.

The symptoms of tricuspid insufficiency are those of right-sided heart failure and include ascites, edema an occasionally right upper quadrant pain.
What is tricuspid insufficiency?