Delayed Traumatic Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation Caused by Blunt Chest Trauma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Cureus. 2024 Nov 4;16(11):e73001. doi: 10.7759/cureus.73001. eCollection 2024 Nov.

Abstract

Traumatic tricuspid regurgitation (TTR) is an uncommon cause of acute right ventricular dysfunction. The surgical approach can be complex, and repair tends to have a lower success rate when right heart failure symptoms are present. We present a case of a 56-year-old man with chronic isolated tricuspid valve flail and severe TTR due to high-energy blunt chest trauma from a vehicle accident 24 years prior. This report emphasizes the critical role of echocardiography in diagnosing trauma-related primary tricuspid regurgitation and the necessity of early detection to facilitate surgical intervention before irreversible damage happens.

Keywords: chest trauma; echocardiography; traumatic valve injury; tricuspid regurgitation; valve repair.

Publication types

  • Case Reports