Prosthetic tricuspid valve dysfunction assessed by three-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography

Abstract

A 39-year-old male who had undergone tricuspid valve replacement for severe tricuspid regurgitation was admitted with palpitation and general edema. Two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography showed tricuspid prosthetic valve dysfunction. Additional three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) could clearly demonstrate the disabilities of the mechanical tricuspid valve. Particularly, 3D TEE demonstrated a mass located on the right ventricular side of the tricuspid prosthesis, which may have caused the stuck disk. This observation was confirmed by intra-operative findings.

Keywords: Prosthetic tricuspid valve; Prosthetic valve dysfunction; Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography; Three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography.