Minerva cardioangiologica
-
The tricuspid valve has historically received less attention than any other cardiac valve with regard to pathophysiology and surgical management. The tricuspid valve is part of a complex functional apparatus that includes the right atrium, right ventricle, and pulmonary circulation. Functional tricuspid regurgitation is the most common tricuspid valve disease and it occurs secondary to dilatation of tricuspid annulus and/or tethering of valve leaflets from right ventricular dilatation and dysfunction. ⋯ An aggressive approach to surgical management as well as prophylactic interventions are becoming more widely adopted. Aggressive tricuspid surgery however, remains an area of controversy in cardiac surgery, although surgical repair remains the gold standard for functional tricuspid regurgitation with replacement reserved for advanced or organic tricuspid disease. Transcatheter therapy is primarily directed toward non-surgical patients and is not included in this review.