title: Tricuspid valve repair with artificial chordae in a 72-year-old woman.
abstract: Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures have been used for the replacement of chordae tendineae since 1985, especially for mitral valve prolapse. There are only a few reports of artificial chordae tendineae to treat tricuspid valve regurgitation. We report on a 72-year-old woman in NYHA class III preoperatively, who underwent successful tricuspid valve repair after preoperative echocardiography revealed tricuspid valve regurgitation grade IV, caused by prolapse of the anterior leaflet (A1-A2) and annular dilatation. Tricuspid valve repair was performed using artificial chords consisting of two polytetrafluoroethylene sutures and a ring annuloplasty. Postoperative echocardiography revealed mild tricuspid valve regurgitation of less than 1°, even after three years. Gore-Tex® sutures as used in mitral valve repair are an excellent option to replace chordae tendineae in tricuspid valve prolapse. This approach represents a safe and effective technique for tricuspid valve repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Schoen-Klinik, Vogtareuth, Germany. dr.denisemarin@yahoo.de
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ramadan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schuetz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002815:Chordae Tendineae / Q000601:surgery*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013537:Sutures; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014263:Tricuspid Valve Prolapse / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene