Massive tricuspideal insufficiency due to rupture of the papillary muscle secondary to closed thoracic trauma




Daniel A. Montero-Farías, Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Luis Vernaza, Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil, Guayas; Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, Guayaquil, Guayas; Ecuador
Brayan P. Carrión-Ruiz, Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Luis Vernaza, Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil, Guayas; Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, Guayaquil, Guayas; Ecuador
Sara Peralta-Merelo, Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Luis Vernaza, Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil, Guayas; Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, Guayaquil, Guayas; Ecuador
Omar Medina-Campozano, Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Luis Vernaza, Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil, Guayas; Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, Guayaquil, Guayas; Ecuador
Diana Yépez-Ramos, Servicio de Cirugía Cardiotorácica, Hospital Luis Vernaza, Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador
Sandra K. Mejía-Michay, Facultad de la Salud Humana, Universidad Nacional de Loja, Loja. Ecuador


Traumatic tricuspid valve lesions are rare. Male patient, 50-year-old, who suffered chest trauma in a car accident. Echocardiography revealed massive tricuspid regurgitation due to papillary muscle rupture. Clinical management was chosen, remaining in functional class II and without right ventricular dysfunction; 3 months later, he presented symptoms of heart failure and dilatation of the right heart chambers. Surgery was performed, repairing the tricuspid valve with suture of the papillary muscle to the ventricular wall and tricuspid annuloplasty with a prosthetic ring. After 6 months of follow-up, the patient remains asymptomatic.



Keywords: Tricuspid regurgitation. Blunt trauma cardiac injury. Heart failure.