Tricuspid Stenosis
Tricuspid stenosis is a relatively uncommon disorder that obstructs blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle, which causes the right atrium to dilate and hypertrophy. Eventually, this leads to right-sided heart failure and increases pressure in the vena cava.
Tricuspid stenosis seldom occurs alone and is most commonly associated with mitral stenosis. It’s most common in females.
Causes
This disorder is usually caused by rheumatic fever, but it also may be congenital.
Complications
Patients with untreated tricuspid stenosis may develop right-sided heart failure.
Assessment
The patient with tricuspid stenosis may complain of dyspnea, fatigue, weakness, and syncope. Peripheral edema may cause her discomfort.
Inspection may reveal jugular vein distention with giant a waves in a patient who has normal sinus rhythm. The patient with severe tricuspid stenosis that has progressed to right-sided heart failure may appear jaundiced, with severe peripheral edema and ascites. She also may appear malnourished.
Auscultation may reveal a diastolic murmur at the lower left sternal border and over the xiphoid process. It’s most prominent during presystole in sinus rhythm. The murmur increases with inspiration and decreases with expiration and during Valsalva’s maneuver.
Palpation may discover hepatomegaly when the patient has right-sided heart failure.
Diagnostic tests
