Patient was educated on tricuspid regurgitation and its pathogenesis as follows:
- Tricuspid valve is the valve between the right atrium and right ventricle and is also called right atrioventricular valve.
- Tricuspid valve permits one-way flow of blood, from the right atrium to right ventricle.
- Tricuspid regurgitation is a condition of incomplete closing of the tricuspid valve, resulting in back flow of blood from the right ventricle into the right atrium.
- Since more blood pools on the right side of the heart, the volume of oxygenated blood pumped out of the left ventricle, into the circulation, is reduced.
- The blood gets backed up in the right atrium, increasing the volume and pressure in the right atrium, resulting in enlargement of the right atrium.
- This increased pressure in the right atrium can also result in increased resistance to receiving deoxygenated blood flow from the peripheries via superior and inferior vena cava, the large veins bringing venous blood from upper and lower parts of the body respectively.
- This can contribute to increased pressure and backup of blood in the peripheral veins, resulting in leakage of fluid from capillaries in the extremities, thereby, developing swelling and edema of extremities and the body.
- Reduced output of oxygenated blood from the left ventricle will result in compromised blood and oxygen supply to the vital organs and consequently, affecting their function.
- Symptoms of tricuspid regurgitation might resemble that of a right heart failure with gross reduction in the volume of oxygenated blood pumped out of the left ventricle over time.
