Tricuspid Stenosis Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Tricuspid stenosis is a disorder of the tricuspid valve characterized by valve stiffness. The heart has four valves, one of which is the tricuspid valve. The tricuspid valve is the valve that separates the right atrium from the right ventricle of the heart.
This condition makes it difficult for the tricuspid valve to open when blood is supposed to be flowing from the atrium to the right ventricle of the heart. Tricuspid stenosis is quite rare. Only about 3 percent of the world’s population experiences it.
Symptoms
Symptoms of tricuspid stenosis vary. Generally, someone who experiences this problem will feel tired quickly when doing activities. And, because the flow of blood from all over the body to the heart is disrupted, blood can accumulate in the stomach and legs. This condition causes the stomach to enlarge because it is filled with fluid and the legs also experience swelling.
Other complaints that can occur are shortness of breath, chest palpitations due to irregular heart rhythms, and coughing up blood. However, in mild cases of tricuspid stenosis, sufferers may not experience any symptoms for years.
Reason
In tricuspid stenosis, the tricuspid valve changes shape to become thicker and more rigid. This causes the valve is difficult to open. Even though normally, for the diastolic phase (the phase of filling blood into the heart chambers) to go well, the tricuspid valve must also be able to open properly.
There are four causes that most often occur in tricuspid stenosis problems, namely:
- Rheumatic heart disease: is a disease caused by infection with the bacterium Streptococcus beta-hemolytic group A which initially infects the throat. The infection activates the body’s immune system and forms bacterial antigen complexes with the body’s antibodies.
This condition causes abnormalities in various organs, including the kidneys and heart. Disorders in the heart due to antigen-antibody complexes are characterized by disorders of the heart valves, including the tricuspid valve.
- Carcinoid heart disease: Carcinoid heart disease occurs due to hormonal abnormalities that result in white plaques that stick to the heart valves.
- Congenital tricuspid stenosis: In cases of congenital tricuspid stenosis, heart valve abnormalities appear in infancy. There is an overgrowth of connective tissue in the valve which causes the valve to become thick and stiff.
- Infective endocarditis: an infection of the inner lining of the heart (endocardium). This condition is more susceptible to injecting drug users.
Diagnosis
At the beginning of the examination to determine the diagnosis of tricuspid stenosis, the doctor will conduct a complete interview regarding the complaints you are experiencing. A thorough physical examination is definitely done, including listening to heart sounds. In conditions of the tricuspid valve, you will generally hear abnormal heart sounds in the form of murmurs that are heard on the left side of the chest.
If the results of these examinations strongly suspect the existence of tricuspid stenosis, then a series of other tests need to be carried out. Among them are X-rays, echocardiography, CT ( computed tomography ) scans, MRI ( magnetic resonance imaging ), and angiography.
From an X-ray examination, it can be seen that the size of the heart can appear normal, it can also look enlarged. If there is an enlargement, the part of the heart that will appear enlarged is the right atrium.
Meanwhile, echocardiography is the main examination to confirm the presence of tricuspid stenosis. From echocardiography, it will be seen if the heart valves have trouble opening and closing properly. From here it can also be assessed the degree of stenosis that occurs if there is stenosis.
CT- scans and MRI examinations are needed if the doctor suspects that there are other structural abnormalities in the heart. Meanwhile, an angiographic examination is needed if the doctor suspects that tricuspid stenosis is related to coronary heart disease.
Treatment
Tricuspid stenosis can be treated with medication and/or surgery. Administration of drugs in cases of tricuspid stenosis is done to:
- Kill bacteria (if the tricuspid stenosis is due to endocarditis) with antibiotics
- Overcoming heart rhythm disturbances by giving antiarrhythmic drugs
- Reducing the volume of blood pumped by the heart to reduce the workload of the heart by limiting salt consumption and giving diuretic drugs
However, the main treatment for tricuspid stenosis is usually surgery. If there are several faulty valves, then valve replacement surgery needs to be performed on all affected valves. This replacement operation can also be done simultaneously.
One type of surgery that is often performed is percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. This is a valve replacement procedure that is carried out by inserting a catheter tube through a large vein in the leg to the location of the heart valve.
Prevention
Until now there is nothing that can be done to prevent tricuspid valve stenosis.