Tricuspid Valve Disease | Regurgitation & Stenosis | MedStar Health

Expert care for conditions affecting the heart’s tricuspid valve

Tricuspid valve disease refers to a number of conditions that limit how well the tricuspid valve can manage the flow of blood between the heart’s right upper chamber and right lower chamber. The doctors in our structural heart and valvular disease program care for people who have this and other disorders that affect the heart’s valves. We often can treat these conditions with minimally invasive approaches. care for people who have this and other disorders that affect the heart’s valves. We often can treat these conditions with minimally invasive approaches.

Tricuspid valve disease includes:

  • Tricuspid regurgitation in which blood flows backward through the valve because the tricuspid valve doesn’t close properly.

  • Tricuspid stenosis a narrowing of the tricuspid valve that limits how much blood flows through the heart.

Tests

Diagnosing tricuspid valve disease is the first step to developing a treatment plan. Our specialists may recommend one or more diagnostic and imaging procedures.

Cardiac catheterization

Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat a variety of heart and vascular conditions by guiding thin, flexible tubes called catheters through blood vessels to problem areas.

Chest X-ray

Chest X-rays use a small dose of radiation to create pictures of the structures inside the chest, including the lungs, heart, and chest wall.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your heart.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, measures the heart’s electrical activity.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging, better known as cardiac MRI, is a combination of radio waves, magnets, and computer technology to create images of your heart and blood vessels.

Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)

Transesophageal echocardiogram allows us to take very detailed images of your heart structure from a probe in your esophagus.

Treatments

Treatment depends on your particular disease type and its severity. In severe cases, your doctor may recommend repairing or replacing your tricuspid valve

Transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement

Transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement is a non-surgical procedure to replace a damaged tricuspid valve.

Tricuspid valve surgery

Tricuspid valve surgery includes repair or replacement of a damaged valve using traditional or minimally invasive methods.

Our providers

Dr Brian Case listens to the heart of a patient during an office visit at MedStar Health. Both people are wearing masks.

Expert cardiology care

Getting the care you need starts with seeing one of our cardiologists.

Ask MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute

Have general questions for our heart and vascular program? Email us at AskMHVI@medstar.net. If you have clinically-specific questions, please contact your physician’s office.