Crumbley A J, Van Bakel A B
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425-2279.
Ann Thorac Surg. 1994 Oct;58(4):1156-60. doi: 10.1016/0003-4975(94)90478-2.
Tricuspid regurgitation is a recognized complication of cardiac transplantation. Damage to the tricuspid valve and subvalvar apparatus has been suggested as a possible cause. We have repaired the tricuspid valves of 2 patients in whom severely symptomatic tricuspid regurgitation developed after transplantation. Gore-Tex sutures were used to replace ruptured chordae anchoring the septal and posterior leaflets. The repair was supported with a Carpentier-Edwards ring. The repairs remain durable at 2 year and 3 years. Both patients demonstrated a similar lesion that we believe to be characteristic of endomyocardial biopsy-induced tricuspid regurgitation.
