Tricuspid valve repair with artificial chordea in a 72-year old woman

Introduction: Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sutures have been used for replacement of chordae tendineae since 1985, especially for mitral valve prolaps. There are only few reports of artificial chordae tendineae in tricuspid valve regurgitation.

Fig. Artificial sutures

Background: We report of a 72-year-old woman in preoperative NYHA class III, who underwent successful tricuspid valve repair.

Preoperativ echocardiography revealed tricuspid valve regurgitation grade IV, caused by prolaps of anterior leaftlet (A1– A2) and annular dilation.

Tricuspid valve repair was performed using artificial chords consisting of two polytetrafluoroethylene (CV-5) sutures and a ring annuloplasty (Carpentier-classic-ring # 34mm). Postoperativ echocardiography revealed mild tricuspid regurgitation smaller grade I. The patient is presently doing well 2 years after the repair.

Conclusions: Gore-Tex sutures are an excellent option for replacing chordea tendineae in tricupid valve prolaps as one knows through chordae replacement in mitral valve repair. This approach repesents a safe and effective technique for tricuspid valve repair.

Fig. Postoparative echocardiography