Loar Robert W, Maskatia Shiraz A, McLaughlin Ericka Scheller, Mott Antonio R, Adachi Iki, Fraser Charles D
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Ann Thorac Surg. 2016 Mar;101(3):e65-7. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2015.09.041.
Traumatic injury to the tricuspid valve can result from severe nonpenetrating chest wall trauma. We present the case of an initially asymptomatic 11-year-old girl who was kicked in the chest by a horse. The trauma resulted in avulsed papillary muscles, ruptured chordae, and right heart failure. She underwent early tricuspid valve reconstruction and annuloplasty. We advocate for routine use of echocardiography to assess for traumatic injury to intracardiac structures. In addition, we believe that early surgical intervention may prevent right-sided heart dysfunction, atrial arrhythmias, and the need for valve replacement.
