HIGHLY ACUTE COURSE OF RUPTURED PAPILLARY-MUSCLE OF THE TRICUSPID-VALVE IN A CASE OF BLUNT CHEST TRAUMA

The sudden onset of tricuspid insufficiency following a blunt chest tr auma is extremely rare. We operated on a young woman in a state of sev ere shock following a riding accident, in whom complete severing of th e papillary muscle of the posterior tricuspid leaflet had occurred. Th e valvuloplasty operation itself and the postoperative course ran smoo thly, apart from a late pericardial tamponade which required surgical revision. In accordance with other reported cases we believe that trau matic tricuspid insufficiency is still a very underestimated pathologi cal occurrence. Echocardiographic examination should therefore be rega rded as an essential standard procedure in all cases of blunt chest in jury.