Echo Doppler in tricuspid valvular resection

pp 210-213

Abstract

A tricuspid regurgitation secondary to a tricuspid valvular resection, performed during the management of an infectious endocarditis, a consequence of a septic abortion is presented hereby. In spite of clinical evidence that showed a severe regurgitation, Doppler flow had some atypical data: a low velocity laminar flow (peak velocity: 0.65 m/seg). Allthough, the recording with pulsed wave showed a systolic flow throughout the right atrium, and the intensity of the signal with continuous wave was similar to the diastolic forward flow; all of them indicative data of its' severity. The absence of a mosaic pattern with color Doppler flow also indicates a low velocity regurgitation, but as the relation between right atrium area and jet area was taken into account, was superior to 40%, a severity criterion. This infrequent finding is the consequence of the wide communication between right cavities, responsable of the absence of some typical findings of regurgitation. Even though in this circumstances Doppler flow is still a useful tool for tricuspid regurgitation assessing