title: Tricuspid Valve Repair with Pericardial Tube Placement via a Right Minithoracotomy.
abstract: The optimal surgical intervention for tricuspid valve endocarditis remains challenging in the setting of intravenous drug abuse. The situation is often complicated by aggressive bacterial pathogens, an increased risk of reinfection and reoperation, and poor long-term survival, despite a typically younger age at presentation. Herein, the case is presented of a 30-year-old female with infective endocarditis of the tricuspid valve secondary to intravenous drug abuse. The patient underwent minimally invasive tricuspid valve reconstruction utilizing a bovine pericardial tricuspid tube. This is a viable alternative to conventional techniques, and may reduce the risk of reinfection and reoperation, maintain ventriculo-tricuspid integrity, provide structural support, and also be performed via a minimally invasive approach.
authors.forename: Christos G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Mihos
authors.forename: Andres M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.forename: Rama K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Krishna
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lamelas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D064593:Heterografts; D006801:Humans; D010496:Pericardium / Q000637:transplantation*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000601:surgery; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*