Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography incremental value in a rare case of a bileaflet tricuspid valve

Tricuspid cleft or tetracuspid valve? Usefulness of three-dimensional echocardiogram in the assessment of isolated tricuspid regurgitation in pediatrics

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in children may be secondary to congenital anomalies of the tricuspid valve complex which is composed by annulus, leaflets, commissures, chordae tendineae, and papillary muscles. The most common congenital cause is Ebstein's anomaly; however, there are less frequent causes such as abnormal number of tricuspid leaflets, tricuspid cleft, leaflet prolapse, double orifice tricuspid valve, and congenital tricuspid valve dysplasia. Identifying the precise cause is important to plan an appropriate repair surgery. In this article, the case of a 4-year-old patient with a tetracuspid valve with significant tricuspid regurgitation is presented and the morphological analysis was made by two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic echocardiography. The morphological differences between a tetracuspid valve and a cleft of the anterior leaflet tricuspid valve are exposed. 3D echocardiographic evaluation of the tricuspid valve allowed a better understanding of the tricuspid valve anatomy, which includes evaluation of the tricuspid annulus, leaflets, commissures, and subvalvular apparatus. Recognizing the accurate cause of isolated tricuspid regurgitation allows better planning of the surgical technique.

Is right atrioventricular valve always tricuspid?

A 71-year-old male with a medical history of hypertension was admitted to emergency department with hypertensive pulmonary edema. The patient appeared anxious and diaphoretic, and physical examination revealed tachypnea, crepitant rales in the both lungs and a systolic ejection murmur at the right sternal border, radiating to the both carotid arteries. The electrocardiography showed sinus tachycardia with indications of left ventricle hypertrophy Before the aortic valve surgery, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed for detailed evaluation of the aortic valve. Two-dimensional TEE showed mild tricuspid valve regurgitation and only two of three leaflets of the tricuspid valve at a time.