Traumatic tricuspid insufficiency. Review of the literature, apropos of a case

The authors report a case of traumatic tricuspid incompetence due to rupture of an anterior pillar and the chordae, associated with pericardial rupture, a first degree atrioventricular block, a persistent complete right bundle branch block and acute recurrent pericarditis. The diagnosis, suggested by echocardiography was confirmed by right cardiac catheterisation. The patient underwent tricuspid plasty six months after the accident. On the basis of a review of the literature, the authors discuss traumatic tricuspid incompetence (its symptoms and associated lesions), the diagnostic methods and the therapeutic approach.