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Patient education: Tricuspid stenosis (The Basics)

Patient education: Tricuspid stenosis (The Basics)

What is tricuspid stenosis? — Tricuspid stenosis is a rare condition in which 1 of the valves of the heart, called the tricuspid valve, doesn't open fully.

When the heart valves work normally, they keep blood flowing freely in only 1 direction. They normally open all the way to let the blood flow through them. Blood comes into the upper right heart chamber (called the right atrium) from the body. The blood then flows through the tricuspid valve into the right lower heart chamber (called the right ventricle) (figure 1).

In tricuspid stenosis, the tricuspid valve gets stuck and does not open fully. This makes the valve opening narrow. When this happens:

Blood can get backed up in the right atrium and the veins leading to the heart.

Not as much blood flows out of the right ventricle.

What are the symptoms of tricuspid stenosis? — Some people with tricuspid stenosis have no symptoms. They might find out they have it when their doctor or nurse hears a heart murmur on a routine exam. A heart murmur is an extra sound in the heartbeat that doctors or nurses hear when they listen to the heart with a stethoscope.

When tricuspid stenosis causes symptoms, they can include:

Feeling very tired

Belly pain (because the liver gets swollen)

Swelling in the belly, legs, or feet

Some people with tricuspid stenosis also have a problem with another valve in the heart, called the mitral valve (figure 1). Mitral valve problems can cause trouble breathing.

Is there a test for tricuspid stenosis? — Yes. To check for tricuspid stenosis and see how severe it is, your doctor will probably order an echocardiogram (also called an "echo"). This test uses sound waves to create a picture of your heart as it beats. It shows the size of the heart chambers, how well the heart is pumping, and how well the heart valves are working (figure 2).

Your doctor might also order:

An electrocardiogram (also called an "ECG") – This test measures the electrical activity in your heart (figure 3).

A chest X-ray – This can show the size and shape of your heart, as well as changes in your lungs.

How is tricuspid stenosis treated? — Treatment depends on your symptoms and how severe your condition is. If you do not have symptoms from your tricuspid stenosis, you might not need any treatment. But your doctor will follow you to see if your tricuspid stenosis gets worse or if you start having symptoms.

If you have symptoms from your tricuspid stenosis, you will likely need treatment. Treatment can include:

Certain medicines used to treat heart problems – These usually include medicines called "diuretics." Diuretics help reduce swelling by making you urinate a lot.

A procedure to open the tricuspid valve – For this procedure, a doctor inflates a balloon in the narrowed tricuspid valve to try to open it. Doctors call this procedure "balloon valvotomy."

Surgery – Your doctor might do surgery to fix your tricuspid valve or replace it.

More on this topic

Patient education: Heart murmurs (The Basics)
Patient education: Swelling (The Basics)
Patient education: Echocardiogram (The Basics)
Patient education: ECG and stress test (The Basics)
Patient education: Prosthetic valves (The Basics)

Patient education: Edema (swelling) (Beyond the Basics)

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Jan 02, 2023.
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