Tricuspid Regurgitation
TR, or tricuspid regurgitation, is a severe and progressive disease of the heart which impacts 1.6 million Americans, but less than 8,000 are treated surgically
TR is a condition where the valve inside the right-half of the heart - known as the tricuspid valve - does not function properly, causing poor blood flow which is necessary to keep us healthy and alive
TR has long been ignored due to high operative mortality, poor outcomes, and the incorrect clinical perception that clinical interventions on the left side of the heart "heal" or correct dysfunction on the right side of the heart
The Human Heart
The human heart is the key organ of the body's cardiovascular system that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body
Blood circulation delivers nutrients and oxygen to all cells in the body, and is critical to keeping our organs, muscles and tissues alive and healthy
The tricuspid valve is one of four valves in the heart that is responsible for controlling blood flow through the heart
What Happens With TR?
TR is a type of heart disease which causes the body's tricuspid valve to become dysfunctional
The tricuspid valve - which is located between the body's right atrium and right ventricle - is responsible for controlling the flow of blood between the right atrium and right ventricle where it is pumped to the lungs for re-oxygenation
If the tricuspid valve does not work properly, blood leaks from the right ventricle back to the right atrium causing the heart to work harder to pump blood to the lungs and the rest of the body
A person may be born with TR, known as congenital heart disease, or it may develop due to other health conditions, such as heart failure, mitral regurgitation, genetic disorders, rheumatic fever or due to the placement of other cardiac devices such as pacemakers or defibrillators