Tricuspid regurgitation is a condition where the tricuspid valve in the heart doesn’t close properly, causing blood to leak into the atrium. Causes include heart failure, Ebstein’s anomaly, rheumatic fever, tumors, radiation therapy, and the use of Fen-Phen. Symptoms depend on severity and treatment may include medication or valve replacement. Mild forms may not significantly affect health or activities.
Tricuspid regurgitation is also called tricuspid regurgitation and this is a condition that affects the tricuspid valve located between the right ventricle and the atrium in the heart. Heart beats or contractions on the right side open and close the tricuspid valve so blood can pass from the atrium to the ventricle. However, sometimes, the tricuspid valve doesn’t close properly and this can cause a problem with blood leaking into the atrium, called regurgitation. This failure can have many causes, usually resulting from problems in the right ventricle such as heart failure.
One potential cause of tricuspid regurgitation is Ebstein’s anomaly of the tricuspid valve, a congenital disorder that usually occurs without cause, but can occur if women take lithium while pregnant. In this disorder the flaps on the valve are not positioned correctly, so the valve cannot close properly. Severe forms may require more surgery, but more minor forms may simply require close observation and bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis (antibiotics) before dental procedures.
Other causes of tricuspid regurgitation can include a past history of rheumatic fever, which can damage the right ventricle, certain types of tumors, or a history of radiation therapy. A more recent cause of the condition has arisen from the use of a certain diet drug, Fen-Phen. A potential cause of confusion is pulmonary hypertension. This creates higher pressure in the pulmonary artery, which could cause regurgitation or could be a symptom associated with it.
The degree to which tricuspid regurgitation is symptomatic depends on its severity. A small leak may not be noticed, but if pulmonary hypertension is present, the condition will usually be diagnosed. Even mild forms can be seen quite easily on echocardiograms. Those people with more severe cases may have a range of symptoms that suggest the condition including fatigue, swelling of the hands and feet, fluid collecting in the abdomen, and easy-to-see neck veins that throb slightly.
The degree of severity can also determine the treatment. Medications may be given to relieve right heart failure or to correct things like high blood pressure that could be causing tricuspid regurgitation. When the condition is very severe, tricuspid valve replacement may be considered, although this means that people generally have to have further replacements in the future, as the valves used are bio-valves, whether from cadavers or animals. and they don’t resist like mechanical valves do. Very mild forms of this condition can simply be evaluated from time to time and may not significantly affect your health or activities.
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