Tricuspid valve repair with artificial chordae in a 72-year-old woman.

Abstract

Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures have been used for the replacement of chordae tendineae since 1985, especially for mitral valve prolapse. There are only a few reports of artificial chordae tendineae to treat tricuspid valve regurgitation. We report on a 72-year-old woman in NYHA class III preoperatively, who underwent successful tricuspid valve repair after preoperative echocardiography revealed tricuspid valve regurgitation grade IV, caused by prolapse of the anterior leaflet (A1-A2) and annular dilatation. Tricuspid valve repair was performed using artificial chords consisting of two polytetrafluoroethylene sutures and a ring annuloplasty. Postoperative echocardiography revealed mild tricuspid valve regurgitation of less than 1°, even after three years. Gore-Tex® sutures as used in mitral valve repair are an excellent option to replace chordae tendineae in tricuspid valve prolapse. This approach represents a safe and effective technique for tricuspid valve repair.

• Authors: D Marin, K Ramadan, C Hamilton, A Schuetz
• Journal: The Thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon (Thorac Cardiovasc Surg) Vol. 59 Issue 8 Pg. 495-7 (Dec 2011) ISSN: 1439-1902 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 21425060 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Chemical References

• Polytetrafluoroethylene

Topics

• Aged
• Chordae Tendineae (surgery)
• Echocardiography
• Female
• Humans
• Polytetrafluoroethylene
• Postoperative Care
• Preoperative Care
• Sutures
• Treatment Outcome
• Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency (diagnostic imaging, surgery)
• Tricuspid Valve Prolapse (diagnostic imaging, surgery)