Tricuspid valve metastasis from testicular carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature

A 20-year-old man with Stage II nonseminomatous germ cell tumor underwent chemotherapy and multiple surgical resections of recurrent abdominal and supradiaphragmatic mature teratomas. Evaluation of a new heart murmur led to the diagnosis of tricuspid valve teratoma, which required complete valve excision and replacement. We present our experience with the first discrete tricuspid valve metastasis from testicular carcinoma and review the literature regarding cardiac metastases from germ cell neoplasms.     

Tricuspid valve papillary fibroelastoma: a rare tumor with a diagnostic dilemma

Papillary fibroelastoma is a rare primary tumor of the heart valves. This lesion can occur on any of the valves or endothelial surface of the heart and has been detected by echocardiography, by cardiac catheterization, during open heart operations for other conditions, and at autopsy. Because of the potential for comorbidities, this tumor should be removed. We present the case of an elderly man with a diagnosis of severe mitral valve regurgitation and moderate tricuspid valve regurgitation who was suspected to have a tricuspid valve vegetation. Mitral valve replacement, tricuspid valve repair, and excision of the lesion were performed successfully. A histologic examination of the vegetation confirmed it to be a papillary fibroelastoma. We present this case to emphasize the rarity of this tumor and the importance of a correct diagnosis to avoid delaying its prompt and definitive management.     

Tumor‐like tricuspid myxomatus degeneration with a primary cardiac leiomyoma: A rare case report

We present an unusual case of a 47‐year‐old male with a cardiac mass arising from the tricuspid valve, which was misdiagnosed as a cystic myxoma. The patient received successful resection of the pathological tissue and tricuspid valvuloplasty. The mass turned out to be tricuspid cystic myxomatus degeneration with a primary cardiac leiomyoma finally. There was no recurrence after complete resection and tricuspid valvuloplasty by 1‐year follow‐up. To our best of our knowledge, only several cases of primary cardiac leiomyoma have been reported, and this is the first case of primary cardiac leiomyoma involving the tricuspid valve in an adult man. The present case suggests that the tricuspid valve should be another rare site of primary cardiac leiomyoma.     

Surgical resection of cardiac metastasis of thyroid cancer--a case report

A case of metastasis of thyroid cancer into the cardiac cavity is described. A 73-year-old female suffered from sudden chest pain, dyspnea and dizziness and admitted to a local clinic on emergency. A diagnosis of bilateral multiple pulmonary infarction was made by lung perfusion scintigraphy. However, a mass migrating between the right atrium and the right ventricle across the tricuspid valve was demonstrated by echocardiography, and the patient was referred to us under a diagnosis of myxoma complicated with pulmonary infarction. Incision of the right atrium disclosed a gelatinous mass resembling frog eggs, attached to the right ventricle side of the anterior cusp of the tricuspid valve and swinging across the orifice of the valve. The gross lesion was removed completely. Since the histological diagnosis was clear cell carcinoma, no surgery was performed on the pulmonary artery. Postoperative re-examination by ultrasonography and CT revealed thyroid cancer as the primary lesion.     

左心瓣膜置换术后远期三尖瓣关闭不全的外科处理

目的探讨左心瓣膜置换术后远期三尖瓣关闭不全(TR)发生的可能机制以及外科治疗方法的选择和结果.方法 56例左心瓣膜置换术后远期发生TR行再次瓣膜手术的病人,10例人工瓣膜功能正常(A组)者中行二尖瓣置换(MVR)4例,主动脉瓣、二尖瓣双瓣置换(DVR)6例;46例人工瓣膜功能障碍(B组)者中MVR 36例,主动脉瓣置换(AVR)4例, DVR 6例.在A、B两组中,46例第1次手时三尖瓣未见明显异常,10例第1次手术时已行DeVega三尖瓣成形(TVP),第2次手术时发现缝线断裂3例,缝线撕脱7例.56例TR病人再次手术时9例行三尖瓣替换(TVR),其中6例三尖瓣呈风湿性改变;47例行TVP.结果 TVP和TVR各死亡1例,病死率3.6%.54例获随访,随访时间6～132个月,平均(79.4±34.8)个月.8例TVR病人术后心功能恢复良好,46例TVP者40例为轻度TR,5例出现中度TR,仍需强心、利尿药维持,1例再次出现重度TR.结论左心瓣膜置换术后远期TR可能与持续肺动脉高压、右心室不可逆损害、三尖瓣风湿性病变、左心功能的恢复情况以及持续心房纤颤有关.重度功能性TR和三尖瓣风湿性病变者行TVR的疗效可靠.随访发现部分TVP病人功能性TR仍有逐渐加重趋势.     

Native Cardiac Valve Pathology

Anatomy of the native cardiac valves, reasons for surgical excision and examination, and a summary of the gross examination and documentation are presented. Aortic stenosis, aortic valve regurgitation, tricuspid and pulmonary valve pathology, mitral stenosis, and mitral insufficiency are each presented with an overview, focused anatomy, and discussion of pathologic diagnosis by gross examination and histology.     

Traumatic ventricular septal defects. Report of 3 cases with tricuspid valve rupture in 2 cases.

Traumatic ventricular septal defects (TVSD) are rare complications of cardiac trauma. This report describes 3 cases of TVSD secondary to penetrating trauma in 2 patients and to blunt trauma in one case. Echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis in all cases. Surgical correction was performed in the 3 cases. In 2 patients associated tricuspid trauma was present requiring tricuspid valve repair.     

Technik der Trikuspidalklappenrekonstruktion

Malformations of the tricuspid valve are less commonly observed than diseases of the valves of the left ventricle. In particular, for a long time little attention was paid to the mostly secondary tricuspid valve regurgitation and the general opinion was that the secondary tricuspid valve insufficiency would be automatically improved by correction of the left ventricular pathology. After experiences from cardiac surgery of congenital defects and the long-term practice to completely or extensively resect the tricuspid valve in drug addicts with endocarditis, the assumption developed that the heart can adequately function without this valve. This line of thought was supported by the functionality of the Fontan circulation with passive perfusion without the function of the right ventricle and right ventricular valves; however, the processing of long-term results showed that most of these patients develop a relevant right heart decompensation. Currently, particular attention is paid to the “prophylactic” correction of the tricuspid valve during other cardiac surgery interventions because the number of postoperatively developing or aggravating secondary tricuspid valve regurgitations is considerable with an underlying left ventricular or pulmonary pathology. Particular problems are the technique and the indications for tricuspid valve reconstruction by high-grade impairment of right ventricular function.     

Surgical treatment of tricuspid insufficiency in patients undergoing mitral valve replacement

During the past eight years, 46 of the 106 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement were associated with tricuspid insufficiency. No surgical correction was performed (14 cases) in cases of slight tricuspid insufficiency. Tricuspid annuloplasty (11 cases) or valve replacement (21 cases) was employed according to the severity of insufficiency. In the non-repair group, the mortality rate was fairly low (21 per cent), but the postoperative status was the least satisfactory by the NYHA classification. Tricuspid insufficiency was significantly reduced only in two of these 14 cases after the mitral valve replacement. In the tricuspid annuloplasty group, although the technique of tricuspid annuloplasty did not always correct insufficiency completely, only one patient died of residual insufficiency. The cardiac output measured with Minnesota Impedance Cardiograph increased postoperatively in proportion to stress in this group. In the tricuspid valve replacement group, cardiac catheterization studies revealed hemodynamic improvement at rest in all, but cardiac output during exercise remained unchanged or decreased in some cases. Now we consider that tricuspid insufficiency with advanced mitral valve disease, even of a slight degree, should be surgically treated and that annuloplasty has more obvious hemodynamic benefits than valve replacement.     

腔镜不停跳术对左心瓣膜置换术后远期三尖瓣重度反流疗效分析

目的 总结左侧心脏瓣膜置换术后远期出现孤立性重度三尖瓣关闭不全患者的腔镜辅助不停跳三尖瓣手术治疗经验。方法 11例心脏瓣膜疾病患者行左心瓣置换术后远期发生重度三尖瓣关闭不全并右心衰竭,8例出现心脏恶病质综合征及肝肾功能不全,予行再次三尖瓣手术,包括人工瓣环成形术2例,行三尖瓣置换术9例,其中置换生物瓣5例,双在叶机械瓣4例;在腔镜辅助下行心脏不停跳再次手术5例,常规再次心脏停搏手术6例。结果 2例围术期死亡,均为停跳组瓣膜置换病人。术后心包引流液量心脏不停跳组明显少于停跳组（P<0.05）。停跳组术后严重低心排血量综合征4例,不停跳组1例。两组术后1月复查超声心动图,右心房、室均明显缩小,三尖瓣无或少量反流,两组间无明显差异。获长期随访5例、随访时间25~86月、心功能Ⅱ级3例、Ⅲ级2例。结论 左心瓣膜置换术后远期孤立性重度三尖瓣关闭不全合并右心衰的再次手术死亡率高、合理掌握手术指征、手术时机、积极开展微创不停跳手术和良好的围术期治疗是手术成功的关键。对于终末期病例,手术死亡率高,应积极开展针对右心系统的心脏超声及磁共振检测指标,综合评估手术风险,常规换瓣手术指征需慎重,必要时可考虑微创经皮导管瓣膜植入术。     

Myxoma involving the atrial valve chordae

Primary cardiac valve tumors are rare and comprise less than 10% of all cardiac tumors. They are, however, of clinical importance because of their unique locations. We report an unusual case of myxoma involving the tricuspid valve chordae in a young woman presenting with syncope. The myxoma was diagnosed by echocardiography and successfully removed by excision of the involved tricuspid valve chordae with valve preservation. (Curr Surg 57:357-358)     

Off-pump tricuspid valve replacement for severe infective endocarditis

A 30-year-old man who is a heroin addict was diagnosed with uncontrolled tricuspid valve endocarditis and repeated lung abscesses. He underwent tricuspid valvectomy for the endocarditis. After surgery the patient had severe tricuspid regurgitation and hypoxemia develop. Due to severe tricuspid regurgitation-induced ventricular distension and persistent low cardiac output, reimplantation of the tricuspid valve was planned for 2 weeks after the first operation. To avoid lung injury caused by the cardiopulmonary bypass and to preserve right ventricular function, a self-made superior and inferior vena cava shunt was connected to the pulmonary artery. The tricuspid valve was implanted without cardiopulmonary bypass.     

心脏瓣膜置换术同期行三尖瓣成形术治疗体会

目的探讨在二尖瓣和/或动脉瓣置换术同期行三尖瓣成形术的合理手术指征、方法及围术期的处理。方法回顾分析三尖瓣成形术治疗三尖瓣关闭不全136例,其中行Devega成形65例,人工环成形48例,Key,s成形23例。同时行二尖瓣置换94例,二尖瓣＋主动脉瓣置换42例。结果术后院内死亡5例,死亡率3.6%;迟发性心包填塞6例经心包引流治愈。术后随访2个月～8年,获访112例,5例死于顽固性心力衰竭,其余心功能明显改善。心脏超声示右心房及右心室较术前明显缩小。27例仍有轻中度返流。结论在瓣膜置换术中据三尖瓣环扩大的部位及返流程度,选择不同的成形方式对于三尖瓣关闭不全疗效满意。围术期及术后加强强心、利尿及扩血管治疗有效降低肺动脉高压,可进一步提高三尖瓣成形近、远期疗效。     

Reoperations after tricuspid valve repair

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to analyze the short- and long-term results of patients with previous tricuspid valve repair who had valve dysfunction and required cardiac reoperations. METHODS: Between 1976 and 2002, 74 patients with a mean age of 53.8 +/- 12.2 years underwent valve reoperations for dysfunction of previous tricuspid valve repair. Mitral and tricuspid lesions were diagnosed in 40 patients (54%), triple valve disease (mitral, aortic, tricuspid) was diagnosed in 26 patients (35.1%), isolated tricuspid disease was diagnosed in 6 patients (8.1%), and aortic and tricuspid lesions were diagnosed in 2 patients (2.7%). Reoperations included tricuspid valve replacement in 43 patients (58.1%) and a new tricuspid valve repair procedure in the remaining 31 patients (41.9%). RESULTS: Hospital mortality (30-day or within first admission) was 35.1% (n = 26). In the multivariate analysis, risk factors for hospital mortality included body mass index less than 20 kg/m2 and greater than 24 kg/m2 , triple valve disease, use of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation, and presence of postoperative complications. The follow-up was complete in 100% of patients, with a mean follow-up of 14.2 years (range 4 months to 26 years). The late mortality was 40.5% (n = 30). Predictors of late mortality were body mass index less than 20 kg/m2 , cardiac surgery before 1991, and development of dysfunction early after tricuspid valve repair. At the follow-up closing date, 19 patients are alive (25.7%). The actuarial survival was 11.8% +/- 4.9% at 26 years. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with failure of a tricuspid valve repair procedure requiring reoperation have a poor prognosis with a high mortality rate both in-hospital and in the long-term.     

Repair of traumatic tricuspid insufficiency via minimally invasive port access

We report on a successful tricuspid valve plasty using port-access minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) for severe traumatic tricuspid insufficiency caused by blunt chest trauma suffered 15 years previously. A combination repair procedure, consisting of cleft closures, plication of the anteroseptal commissure, and ring annuloplasty, was necessary to achieve valve competence and proved possible via port access without difficulty. Port-access MICS is an alternative approach for tricuspid valve surgery.     

Candida parapsilosis tricuspid native valve endocarditis: 3-year follow-up after surgical treatment

In non-addicted patients, several states such as alcoholism, previous valvular heart disease or prosthetic valve replacement, immunodeficiency states, prolonged intravenous hyperalimentation, permanent pacemakers, and some congenital heart diseases can provide the predisposing factors for tricuspid valve endocarditis. It is an extremely rare occurrence in patients with normal native cardiac valves. In this report, we present a case of a 67-year-old woman with tricuspid native valve endocarditis related to Candida parapsilosis which is a very rare cause of infective endocarditis and carries a high mortality risk. An operation was indicated for the patient due to persistent enlarging vegetation on tricuspid valve, severe tricuspid regurgitation, septic pulmonary emboli and finally uncompensated respiratory and heart failure. She underwent tricuspid valve replacement with bioprothesis three years ago and now she is in a satisfactory condition without any medical treatment.     

Experimental study on the optimal size of the tricuspid valve annular area on annuloplasty

The optimal size of tricuspid valve annular area (TVAA) by annuloplasty for tricuspid regurgitation remains controversial. Recently, we developed a new measuring system which permits to do real-time measurement of tricuspid valve annular area in anesthetized dogs. Using this system, we studied the optimal size of TVAA by annuloplasty. After the right atrial incision, a metal thread which functions as a sense loop of the electromagnetic fields was stitched along the tricuspid valve annulus (visible juncture of the valve leaflets and the cardiac wall). The drive coil assembly was placed perpendicular to the extension of the long axis of the heart and was directed toward the tricuspid valve region. During control conditions, the maximum TVAA appeared at the onset of ventricular systole. The minimum TVAA appeared during the early ventricular diastolic phase which included the ventricular isovolumic relaxation phase. The maximum TVAA varied in five dogs between 2.2 cm2 and 3.1 cm2, the minimum TVAA also varied between 1.8 cm2 and 2.5 cm2: During regular sinus rhythm, a decrease of TVAA during one cardiac cycle ranged between 11.9% and 22.4% of the maximum size. When TVAA was not decreased by annuloplasty to the minimum area which was observed during cardiac cycle in the control state, the cardiac output and the right atrial pressure remained unchanged, because the ventricular filling was not obstructed. On the other hand, when TVAA was decreased smaller than this minimum area, the cardiac output decreased and the right atrial pressure rose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Tricuspid valve replacement after cardiac transplantation.

Tricuspid regurgitation, a fairly common finding after cardiac transplantation, is generally mild or moderate, and is not clinically significant. The etiology of tricuspid regurgitation is not entirely understood, and experience with valve replacement after cardiac transplantation is limited. We describe a case of progressively severe tricuspid regurgitation ultimately requiring tricuspid valve replacement. At operation, the ruptured chordae of the posterior part of anterior and septal leaflet with resulting partially flail leaflets were found. Examination of the papillary muscle showed origins of several of the ruptured chordae. Damage to the tricuspid subvalvular apparatus at endomyocardial biopsy appeared to be a possible cause. A 31-mm Carpentier-Edwards porcine valve was implanted. This was because replacement with a mechanical prosthesis would prevent future right-side heart catheterization and endomyocardial biopsy and in valve repair, the patient remains exposed to the risk of the recurrence of chordal rupture. We discuss proposed causes and choices in surgical technique.     

Role of the septal leaflet in tricuspid valve closure. Consideration for treatment of complete atrioventricular canal.

A septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve is thought to work differently from other anterior and posterior leaflets. We studied its role in valve closure in dogs by means of a dynamic area meter. During the control state, the tricuspid valve orifice area increased twice in diastole coincidentally with either atrial systole or rapid ventricular filling. We observed several findings after the septal leaflet resection: (1) two peak area patterns of the tricuspid valve orifice in diastole, (2) no elevation of right atrial pressure on ventricular systole (there was no V wave), (3) no tricuspid valve regurgitation on right ventriculography. These findings suggest that a complete valve closure occurred without the septal leaflet in regular sinus rhythm. An elevation of the right ventricular pressure produced by pulmonary artery stenosis without septal leaflet, however, easily caused tricuspid valve regurgitation in contrast to the same pressure of the right ventricle with the normal tricuspid valve. The right ventricular pacing caused severe valve regurgitation without the septal leaflet. Results indicate that in the repair of the complete atrioventricular canal defect and other tricuspid valve lesions, the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve rarely requires attention. An atrioventricular block should be avoided, however, because electrical cardiac pacing on the right ventricle causes severe valve regurgitation without the septal leaflet.     

Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement in a transplanted heart

Heart transplantation is subject to a number of chronic complications that may limit graft survival and be detrimental to the patient's quality of life. Aortic valve stenosis is a rare complication found after cardiac transplantation, which we believe has never been described on a tricuspid normal aortic valve. In the present study, we report a case of successful aortic valve replacement performed 16 years after cardiac transplantation on an extensively calcified tricuspid valve. Surgery was performed by using a minimally invasive approach with a reverse T upper mini-sternotomy, and the aortic valve was replaced by a biological prosthesis. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged 7 days after the operation.