Tricuspid Valve Surgery

Tricuspid Valve Repair and Replacement

The tricuspid valve regulates the blood flow from the heart's upper-right chamber (the right atrium) to the lower-right chamber (the right ventricle). The two most common diseases of the tricuspid valve are tricuspid regurgitation and tricuspid stenosis. While diseases of the tricuspid valve are fairly rare, occasionally this valve must be repaired or replaced.

Whenever possible, the surgical team at Stamford Hospital will attempt to repair your valve rather than replace. Keeping your own valve lessens the chance that you will need to take blood thinning drugs. Repair can involve surgically revising the shape of your valve or using a ring around the valve to tighten it, or both - otherwise, the mitral valve is replaced with a tissue or mechanical valve.

Minimally Invasive Valve Repair

Stamford Hospital is among a select few hospitals nationally where patients can have this surgery performed in a minimally invasive fashion. Minimally invasive tricuspid valve repair surgery is performed through a small incision, often using specialized surgical instruments. The incision is 2 to 4 inches instead of the 6- to 8-inch incision required for traditional surgery resulting in fewer complications and quicker recovery time.