[Traumatic tricuspid regurgitation: a case report and a review of operated cases in Japan].

A 48-year-old male was admitted with chief complaints of fatigue and palpitation. He had a past history of closed chest trauma without rib fracture due to an automobile accident 7 years ago. He had been complaining of a gradual increase of palpitation since 4 years after the accident. A two-dimensional and transesophageal Doppler echocardiography revealed severe tricuspid regurgitation due to ruptured chorda tendinea of the tricuspid anterior leaflet. Cardiac catheterization revealed an elevated right atrial v wave (16 mmHg). At open heart surgery, complete tear of a chorda tendinea of the anterior leaflet and elongation of chordae tendineae of the posterior leaflet were observed. The valve was replaced with a 31 mm Carpentier-Edwards bioprosthesis. His post operative course was uneventful. A brief review of the reported surgical cases of traumatic tricuspid regurgitation in Japan is also described in this paper.