The tricuspid valve is located on the right side of the heart between the right atrium or collecting chamber and the right ventricle or pumping chamber. This side collects the deoxygenated blood and sends it to the lungs to get oxygenated. The right side of the heart is usually a low pressure system.
The tricuspid valve can get damaged in two ways
1. Regurgitation or leak; the valve most commonly develops a leak when the annulus or ring holding the leaflets gets dilated due to an increase volume load to the right ventricle. The other cause of leak is infection of the valve which is seen in intravenous drug abusers. Sometimes infected pacemaker leads can also damage the valve.
2. Stenosis: this is rare condition which is caused by rheumatic heart disease and is commonly associated with other valve lesions. Treatment: The tricuspid valve is a very repair friendly valve and in most cases it can be repaired. Rarely in infective endocarditis it may be damaged beyond repair and needs to be replaced.
