Ventricular septal defect causing tricuspid regurgitation with consequent pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy

Mahmoud Abdelnabi MD, Abdallah Almaghraby MD

Corresponding author: Mahmoud Hassan Abdelnabi
Contact Information: [email protected]
DOI: 10.12746/swrccc.v9i40.869

CASE

A 25-year-old man complaining of grade II dyspnea was referred for transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for further assessment of his tricuspid valve before surgical repair/replacement. He was previously diagnosed with isolated severe tricuspid regurgitation causing pulmonary hypertension and was scheduled for tricuspid repair/replacement, if needed. On clinical examination, he had a harsh systolic murmur at the lower left sternal border and apex. A TTE revealed thickened tricuspid valve leaflets with severe tricuspid regurgitation with consequent pulmonary hypertension with right ventricular hypertrophy. A small peri-membranous ventricular septal defect (VSD) partially closed by an aneurysmally dilated septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve was detected resulting in loss of coaptation of the tricuspid valve leaflets. (Figure 1 panel A-D, Video 1) The tricuspid regurgitation with consequent pulmonary hypertension was induced by two different mechanisms: first, by the high-velocity flow of the peri-membranous VSD distorting the tricuspid valve; second, by the Venturi effect that induces suction of the septal leaflet to partially close the defect resulting in loss of coaptation. The clinical decision was changed from tricuspid valve repair/replacement to VSD percutaneous closure. Follow-up echocardiography after VSD closure revealed mild residual tricuspid regurgitation and resolution of pulmonary hypertension.


Figure 1

Figure 1. Panel A-D: Transthoracic echocardiography showing small peri-membranous ventricular septal defect causing severe tricuspid regurgitation, pulmonary hypertension, and right ventricular hypertrophy.

Video 1. Transthoracic echocardiography of peri-membranous ventricular septal defect causing tricuspid regurgitation and pulmonary hypertension.


DISCUSSION

Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain tricuspid regurgitation associated with peri-membranous VSD. First, it can be induced by high velocity from the VSD resulting in distortion of the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve redirecting the flow towards the right atrium; second, septal leaflet aneurysm which is induced by the Venturi effect of the shunt and partially closes the shunt but results in the loss of complete closure of tricuspid valve during systole with subsequent tricuspid regurgitation.1 Peri-membranous VSD closure either by surgery or device occlusion is usually associated with a total resolution of tricuspid regurgitation.2

Consent: Informed written consent was obtained from the patient.

Keywords: Echocardiography, peri-membranous ventricular septal defect, tricuspid regurgitation, pulmonary hypertension


REFERENCES

  1. Hagler DJ, Squarcia U, Cabalka AK, et al. Mechanism of tricuspid regurgitation in paramembranous ventricular septal defect. J American Soc Echocardiography 2002;15(4):364–368.
  2. Kumar V, Aggarwal N, Swamy A, et al. Disappearing high velocity severe tricuspid regurgitation following Ventricular septal defect device closure. Indian Heart J 2017;69(3):402–404.


Article citation: Abdelnabi M, Almaghraby A. Ventricular septal defect causing tricuspid regurgitation with consequent pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy. The Southwest Respiratory and Critical Care Chronicles 2021;9(40):77–78
From: Cardiology and Angiology Unit (MA), Clinical and Experimental Internal Medicine Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; Department of Internal Medicine (MA), Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas; Department of Cardiology (AA), Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
Submitted: 4/18/2021
Accepted: 5/16/2021
Reviewer: Aliakbar Arvandi MD
Conflicts of interest: none
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