Treatment

The type of treatment will depend on how bad the symptoms are. At first, medical treatment may be needed to manage symptoms. The following medications are commonly used to relieve symptoms.

• Diuretics or water tablets. These encourage the body to produce urine to relieve the build-up of fluid in the lungs and lower part of the body.
• ACE inhibitors. These reduce the amount of work the heart does and improve the flow of blood to the heart muscle.
• Anti-arrhythmic drugs. These stabilise the heart rhythm.

If surgery is needed, the valve will either be repaired or replaced, depending on your medical condition. Unlike replacing a valve, during a repair the valve structure (the leaflets) are not removed. Instead the structure of the valve is preserved and supported by a ring or annuloplasty band.

Tricuspid regurgitation is a leaking valve that allows blood to leak backwards into the right atrium from the right ventricle. This puts strain on the right ventricle and it may also become thickened.

Tricuspid regurgitation can be caused by:

• Infection of the inner lining of the heart (infective endocarditis); or
• The structure of the valve weakening with age.
• The symptoms of tricuspid regurgitation include:
• Shortness of breath when active
• Tiredness or fatigue; and
• In severe cases, a build-up of fluid in the abdomen and lower legs, causing swelling and discomfort.

Chest pain or angina may also be a symptom because of disease to the coronary arteries.