Tricuspid valve regurgitation is a condition in which the valve between the two right heart chambers (right ventricle and right atrium) doesn't close properly. The malfunctioning valve allows blood to flow back into your heart's upper right chamber (right atrium).
Tricuspid valve regurgitation can be the result of a condition you're born with (congenital heart disease), or it can occur due to valve abnormalities caused by other conditions.
If your condition is mild, you may not need treatment. Your doctor may just monitor your condition. However, if you have severe tricuspid valve regurgitation and you're experiencing signs and symptoms, treatment may be necessary.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Tricuspid valve regurgitation often doesn't cause signs or symptoms until the condition is severe. You may be diagnosed with this condition when having tests for other conditions.
Noticeable signs and symptoms of tricuspid valve regurgitation may include:
You may also notice signs or symptoms of the underlying condition that's causing tricuspid valve regurgitation, such as pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension symptoms may include fatigue, weakness, difficulty exercising and shortness of breath.
Severe tricuspid valve regurgitation can result in right-sided heart failure. If you have signs or symptoms of right-sided heart failure â such as feeling easily fatigued or short of breath, even with normal activity â see your doctor. Your doctor may refer you to a doctor trained in heart conditions (cardiologist).
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Tricuspid valve regurgitation can be caused by a number of conditions.
Tricuspid valve regurgitation is usually caused by the lower right heart chamber (right ventricle) increasing in size, which can cause the tricuspid valve to stop working properly. Several conditions that affect the right ventricle, such as heart failure; conditions that cause high blood pressure in the arteries in your lungs (pulmonary hypertension); or an abnormal heart muscle condition (cardiomyopathy) also may cause the tricuspid valve to stop working properly.
Tricuspid valve regurgitation can also occur with heart conditions that affect the left side of the heart, such as left-sided heart failure that leads to right-sided heart failure.
Tricuspid valve regurgitation can also be caused by valve problems due to:
Ebstein's anomaly. In this rare condition, the malformed tricuspid valve sits lower than normal in the right ventricle, and the tricuspid valve's leaflets are abnormally formed. This can lead to blood leaking backward (regurgitating) into the right atrium.
Tricuspid valve regurgitation in children is usually caused by heart disease present at birth (congenital heart disease). Ebstein's anomaly is the most common congenital heart disease that causes the condition. Tricuspid valve regurgitation in children may often be overlooked and not diagnosed until adulthood.
Your heart, the center of your circulatory system, is made up of four chambers. The two upper chambers (atria) receive blood. The two lower chambers (ventricles) pump blood.
Four heart valves open and close to let blood flow in one direction through your heart. The tricuspid valve â which lies between the two chambers on the right side of your heart â consists of three flaps of tissue called leaflets.
The tricuspid valve opens when blood flows from the right atrium to the right ventricle. Then the flaps close to prevent the blood that has just passed into the right ventricle from flowing backward.
In tricuspid valve regurgitation, the tricuspid valve doesn't close tightly. This causes the blood to flow back into the right atrium during each heartbeat.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Tricuspid valve regurgitation often has no symptoms, and you may be diagnosed incidentally when having tests for other conditions.
If you are having symptoms that suggest a heart condition, your doctor may review your medical history and conduct a physical examination.
Your doctor may order several tests to diagnose tricuspid valve regurgitation, determine the severity and cause of your condition, and develop an appropriate treatment plan. Tests may include:
This is the main test used to diagnose tricuspid valve regurgitation. In this test, sound waves produce detailed images of your heart. This test assesses the structure of your heart, the tricuspid valve and the blood flow through your heart. Your doctor also may order a 3-D echocardiogram.
Your doctor may also order a transesophageal echocardiogram. In this test, a doctor inserts a tube with a tiny sound device (transducer) into the part of your digestive tract that runs from your throat to your stomach (esophagus). Because the esophagus lies close to your heart, the transducer provides a detailed image of your heart.
A cardiac MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of your heart. This test may be used to determine the severity of your condition and assess the size and function of your lower right heart chamber (right ventricle).
In this test, sensor patches with wires attached (electrodes) measure the electrical impulses given off by your heart. An ECG can detect enlarged chambers of your heart, heart disease and abnormal heart rhythms.
In a chest X-ray, your doctor studies the size and shape of your heart and evaluates your lungs.
Different exercise tests help measure your activity tolerance and monitor your heart's response to physical exertion. If you are unable to exercise, medications to mimic the effect of exercise on your heart may be used.
Doctors rarely use this test to diagnose tricuspid valve regurgitation. However, in some cases doctors may order it to determine certain causes of tricuspid valve regurgitation and to help decide on treatment.
In this procedure, doctors insert a long, thin tube (catheter) into a blood vessel in your groin, arm or neck and guide it to your heart using X-ray imaging. A special dye injected through the catheter helps your doctor see the blood flow through your heart, blood vessels and valves, and allows your doctor to check for abnormalities inside the heart and lungs. The pressure in the heart chambers and blood vessels can also be checked during this procedure.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
If tricuspid valve regurgitation lasts, it can lead to:
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Your doctor may recommend that you make some lifestyle changes to improve your heart health and to live with tricuspid valve regurgitation, including:
Prepare for pregnancy. If you have tricuspid valve regurgitation and you're thinking about becoming pregnant, talk with your doctor first. If you have severe tricuspid valve regurgitation, you'll need to be monitored by a cardiologist and medical team experienced in treating women with heart valve conditions during pregnancy.
If your condition is due to a congenital heart condition, such as Ebstein's anomaly, you may need to be evaluated by a doctor trained in congenital heart disease. Discuss the risks with your doctor.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
If you have tricuspid valve regurgitation, here are some steps that may help you cope:
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Several factors can increase your risk of tricuspid valve regurgitation, including:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
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