Flail tricuspid valve secondary to blunt chest trauma.

A 78-year-old man admitted with complaints of breathlessness of 1 year and typical chest pain of 2 months duration. He had a blunt chest trauma 7 years back. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe tricuspid regurgitation due to a flail anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve. It also revealed global left ventricular dysfunction. Flail tricuspid valve causing severe regurgitation is usually due to mechanical trauma. Since it is well tolerated for years, the diagnosis may be delayed or missed entirely. Echocardiography has allowed easier diagnosis of this condition resulting in earlier and, hence, more effective treatment.