A case of traumatic tricuspid valve regurgitation caused by blunt chest trauma.

A case of severe tricuspid valve regurgitation caused by ruptured chordae tendineae secondary to blunt chest trauma from a motor vehicle accident is described. A transthoracic echocardiogram did not demonstrate these findings, which were clearly visualized on a transesophageal echocardiogram. We propose that patients with blunt chest trauma be considered for transesophageal echocardiography (unless surface images are of high quality) to evaluate not only the tricuspid valve apparatus but to examine other cardiac structures as early (ie, presymptomatic) treatment is preferable.