PARTIAL MITRAL HOMOGRAFT FOR TRICUSPID-VALVE REPAIR

We report a case of partial replacement of the tricuspid valve by a mi tral homograft in a young drug addict with right heart endocarditis, O peration was indicated because of sudden severe tricuspid regurgitatio n and persistence of vegetations despite appropriate antibiotic therap y. Partial tricuspid valve replacement was performed with a segment of mitral homograft reinforced by a semirigid prosthetic ring, At 30-mon th postoperative follow-up the patient was in excellent clinical condi tion with a satisfactory echocardiographic result. (C) 1997 by The Soc iety of Thoracic Surgeons.