Tricuspid valve damage

I recently had mitral valve replacement surgery. In the OR prior to my surgery they did a TEE. The echo showed severe mitral valve regurgitation which we expected but it also showed severe tricuspid valve regurgitation. My surgeon said that my pacemaker lead was laying across my tricuspid valve and had damaged the valve so he also repaired tricuspid valve in addition to replacing my mitral valve. I find it interesting that this was not seen on my prior TEE from which my mitral regurgitation was diagnosed only 8 weeks prior. That echo showed my tricuspid regurgitation was trace to minimal. I've had my dual lead pacemaker for not quite 3 years.

Anyone ever hear about a pacemaker lead damaging a valve due to the way it was sitting/laying in your heart?

3 Comments

Valve

by rnff2 - 2016-03-30 08:03:12

I can understand how a valve can be damaged when the lead is being placed. I guess just don't understand how once the lead is in place and after 2 1/2 years several regular echos and a TEE and nothing was ever noticed, always trace to mild regurgitation, then suddenly day of surgery the valve has severe regurgitation.

I guess I shouldn't be too shocked, I had a cleft mitral valve all my life and it wasn't found until the end of my 2nd open heart surgery, and I can't count the number of echos and TEE's and cardiac caths I had prior to that surgery. If something strange is going to happen, it's going to happen to me. ;)

I am very glad he found it and repaired it. I just hope the lead doesn't continue to cause damage to the repaired valve. I choose a mechanical mitral valve to try and prevent any future open heart surgeries.

Tricuspid valve

by Good Dog - 2016-03-30 08:03:59

I understand how you feel. Thing is with the valves, they all leak just a little with leads passing through them. I guess I shouldn't say all, but it is just not that uncommon that there is some leakage (regurgitation). So it is really more a matter of degrees. A small amount is no big deal.
In any case, I can easily see how damage could have been missed and/or maybe the possibility that you were just not informed. It is hard to say. There is no reason to believe that any further damage could occur again. I have two leads through my tricuspid valve. The 2nd lead has been in-place for 20 years now. So it is something I think about also. I guess if that doesn't get me something else will.
I wish you the best...........
David

Tricuspid valve

by Good Dog - 2016-03-30 11:03:39

Yes, it is possible to have your tricuspid valve damaged by the lead. Inserting a lead can damage it and/or too many leads or anything passing through it can also cause damage to it. There are numerous ways for it to be damaged.

You are very fortunate that the doc was able to repair it during the surgery for your mitral valve.

David

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