title: Heterogeneity of traumatic injury of the tricuspid valve: a report of four cases.
abstract: Tricuspid valve injury causing severe tricuspid regurgitation is the most common cardiac complication following blunt chest trauma. We present four cases with different clinical presentations that included pleural effusion, arrhythmias, cyanosis, peripheral edema and dyspnea, with varying onset of symptoms. Echocardiographic evaluation and intraoperative findings in these patients revealed a broad spectrum of injury to the tricuspid valve including papillary muscle and chordal rupture, chordal elongation and leaflet perforation. Because surgical treatment is required in most patients and since the diagnosis is often delayed, we believe that early echocardiographic evaluation is required in all patients with blunt chest trauma, in particular if clinical symptoms of right heart failure are present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: Senta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Klaar
authors.forename: Rainald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seitelberger
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mundigler
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Binder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000293:injuries*; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult