Tricuspid Valve Disease

Need Tricuspid Valve Repair or Replacement in Orange County?

The Bill & Nancy Thompson Heart Valve Center at Hoag offers patients world-class care, diagnosis and surgical options for conditions that can affect the delicate interplay of the four valves of the human heart.

Staffed by renowned cardiac surgeons and cardiologists, this hub for advanced, life-changing care in treating tricuspid valve disease, helps patients find hope, healing and a new lease on life.

Need heart valve repair or replacement in Orange County? With a focus on delivering compassionate, patient-centered cardiovascular care, Hoag is the recognized regional leader. Contact us today through our online form or by calling 949-764-8258.

What is Tricuspid Valve Disease?

Tricuspid valve disease is a type of valvular heart disease (also known as heart valve disease) in which the tricuspid valve does not close properly.

The tricuspid valve is a heart valve that separates the right atrium (the right upper heart chamber) and the right ventricle (the right lower heart chamber). This crucial heart valve helps maintain forward blood flow through the two heart chambers.

What are the Different Types of Tricuspid Valve Disease?

Tricuspid valve disease is an umbrella term for any defect of the tricuspid valve. There are three types of tricuspid defects. These include:

Tricuspid Atresia

Tricuspid atresia is a congenital heart defect in which the tricuspid valve is malformed at birth. This condition can limit the ability of the heart to pump blood and usually requires some form of surgical repair.

Tricuspid Stenosis

Tricuspid stenosis is a narrowing of the tricuspid valve that occurs when the tricuspid valve becomes so stiff that the flow of blood from the heart’s upper right chamber (the right atrium) to the heart’s lower right chamber (the right ventricle) is impeded. This can lead to the enlargement of the right atrium, damaging the heart and hindering its ability to maintain proper blood flow.

Tricuspid Regurgitation

Tricuspid valve regurgitation occurs when the tricuspid valve opening does not close tightly enough, leading to a leaky valve (also known as valve insufficiency). When a leaky tricuspid valve occurs, blood leaks backward into the right atrium. Severe tricuspid regurgitation can enlarge the right atrium and potentially damage this important heart muscle.

What Causes Tricuspid Valve Disease?

Tricuspid valve disease, as with any other heart valve disease, can arise from several causes. These include:

Congenital Heart Defects or Genetic Disorders

Congenital heart disease (heart issues which exist from birth) can alter the shape of the heart valves and impede their function. For example, severe tricuspid valve regurgitation in children is usually caused by a defect known as the Ebstein anomaly, a condition in which the tricuspid valve sits lower than normal in the right ventricle. Learn more about congenital heart disease here.

Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder that impedes the body’s ability to make healthy connective tissue and is associated with tricuspid valve regurgitation. Learn more about Marfan syndrome here.

Infection or Disease

Infections such as rheumatic fever (untreated strep throat) can damage the tricuspid valve. Infective endocarditis (infections of the lining of the heart) can also damage the tricuspid valve, along with causing other forms of heart valve disease.

Carcinoid heart disease (CHD) is a rare syndrome in which tumors create a hormonelike substance which damages the tricuspid and pulmonary valves.

Traumatic Injury

Trauma inflicted on the chest, such as in a car accident, can lead to tricuspid valve regurgitation. Additionally, tricuspid regurgitation can occur as a result of the installation or removal of a pacemaker or some other cardiac device.

Radiation therapy​​​​​​​​ directed at the chest can also cause complications which may lead to tricuspid valve regurgitation.

What are the Symptoms of Tricuspid Valve Disease?

Serious symptoms of tricuspid valve disease often become noticeable only in more advanced stages. Some people may have no symptoms at all, with the condition discovered accidentally during the diagnosis of other conditions such as coronary artery disease.

In those who do have noticeable symptoms, they include:

• Fatigue
• A pulsing sensation within the veins of the neck
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
• Heart murmur
• Swelling in various body parts like the feet, ankles and legs
• Enlarged liver​​​​​​​​

What are the Serious Complications of Tricuspid Valve Disease?

With modern treatments and procedures, the prognosis for those with tricuspid valve disease is generally good. However, depending on the severity of the condition, how far advanced it is and other factors, the condition can lead to serious health complications. These complications not only worsen the patient’s quality of life but can also be life-threatening​​.

Potential complications of tricuspid valve disease include:

• Atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder that requires proper treatment in order to prevent stroke
• Right atrial enlargement, a condition in which the right atrium, one of the four chambers of the heart, becomes abnormally large. This can lead to the right atrium weakening over time, which can culminate in heart failure.

How is Tricuspid Valve Disease Diagnosed

At Hoag’s Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute, our highly experienced team of cardiologists is dedicated to providing Orange County’s most advanced range of minimally invasive procedures, diagnostics and tests for heart valve disease. Because an accurate diagnosis and treatment options lead to a better quality of life for patients who need heart valve care in Orange County, and that’s what our community deserves.

Visit this link to learn more about how tricuspid valve disease is diagnosed at Hoag.

Searching for the Area’s Most Advanced Tricuspid Valve Disease Treatment? Orange County Trusts Hoag.

At Hoag’s Nancy & Bill Thompson Heart Valve Center, we’re not just treating conditions that impact the valves of the human heart. We’re changing the national standard for valvular heart disease care, thanks to a system-wide commitment to finding the most advanced treatment options and delivering them to Orange County residents.

From cardiac catheterization to robotic-assisted tricuspid valve repair, transesophageal echocardiogram to next-generation mapping of the electrical activity of the heart, Hoag’s Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute is at the forefront of advanced imaging, diagnostics and surgical innovations that are improving how tricuspid valve repair and replacement is done. For patients in need of tricuspid valve care in Orange County communities including Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Yorba Linda, Laguna Beach, Mission Viejo and Anaheim, there’s just no place like Hoag.

Visit this link to learn more about how tricuspid valve disease is treated at Hoag.

Who is Most at Risk to Develop Tricuspid Valve Disease?

There are a host of factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing tricuspid valve disease. These include:

• Having a congenital heart defect
• Previously having a heart attack or heart failure
• Having hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Having pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)
• Use of certain medications, including certain drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease or migraines
• Infections that can damage the heart, such as rheumatic fever or infective endocarditis

Are There Any Ways to Reduce My Risk of Developing Tricuspid Valve Disease?

There is no way to definitely prevent a person from developing tricuspid valve disease. However, there are certain steps you can take to maintain a healthy heart and reduce your risk of developing the condition. These measures include:

• Preventing or controlling pulmonary hypertension: pulmonary hypertension, or high blood pressure in the lungs, can cause tricuspid valve disease. The risk of pulmonary hypertension can be reduced through healthy lifestyle changes and management of conditions that increase your risk of pulmonary hypertension such as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and chronic lung disease.
• Seeking treatment for rheumatic fever and infective endocarditis: Rheumatic fever and infective endocarditis can potentially damage the heart valves should they be allowed to progress. Seeking medical treatment for these conditions can reduce the risk of damage to the tricuspid valve.

Need Tricuspid Valve Repair or Replacement in Orange County?

The Bill & Nancy Thompson Heart Valve Center at Hoag offers patients world-class care, diagnosis and surgical options for conditions that can affect the delicate interplay of the four valves of the human heart.

Staffed by a dedicated support team, renowned cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists, this hub for advanced, life-changing care in treating tricuspid valve disease, helps patients find hope, healing and a new lease on life.

Need heart valve repair or replacement in Orange County? With a focus on delivering compassionate, patient-centered cardiovascular care, Hoag is a recognized leader. Contact us today through our online form or by calling 949-764-8258.