Tricuspid Valve Disease

Tricuspid valve disease occurs when your heart’s tricuspid valve, which separates your heart’s two right chambers, fails to either close or open properly.

There are two types of tricuspid valve disease:

• Tricuspid regurgitation
• Tricuspid stenosis

Our Approach to Treating Tricuspid Valve Disease

Our specialists come together as a team to care for you. With extensive experience treating tricuspid valve disease, you can trust your care team to deliver the most effective treatment option for you. When surgery is needed to repair or replace your tricuspid valve, our experts use catheter-based approaches whenever possible.

Regardless of how mild or severe your condition, your care team will help you understand your treatment options and which may be best for your unique needs.

Tricuspid Regurgitation

Tricuspid valve regurgitation occurs when blood flows back through the tricuspid valve. When this occurs, it can increase the blood pressure in the right side of your heart, causing it to enlarge.

Symptoms of Tricuspid Regurgitation

Symptoms of tricuspid regurgitation may be mild and can include the following:

• Tiredness or fatigue
• Swelling of the abdomen, feet or ankles

Symptoms of tricuspid regurgitation can generally be managed with medications that cause urination (sometimes called water pills). More severe symptoms may require surgical valve treatment or evaluation for enrollment in a clinical trial evaluating newer catheter-based therapy for tricuspid regurgitation.

Tricuspid Stenosis

Tricuspid valve stenosis occurs when the valve becomes narrowed or blocked — restricting blood flow on the right side of your heart. If your tricuspid valve is too tight, this can cause your heart to enlarge, affecting the pressure and blood flow into your heart chambers and veins. This can also cause your right ventricle to shrink and reduce blood flow throughout your body. Tricuspid stenosis is predominantly caused by rheumatic fever and is rare in the U.S.

Symptoms of Tricuspid Stenosis

Tricuspid stenosis can include the following symptoms:

• Palpitations (sensation of feeling our heartbeat)
• Neck discomfort
• Fatigue
• Cold skin
• Abdominal discomfort

Tricuspid stenosis is usually benign, requiring no specific treatment. However, some people may benefit from surgery on the tricuspid valve — often performed in combination with mitral valve surgery or aortic valve disease repair.