TRAUMATIC TRICUSPID REGURGITATION COMPLICATING ENDOCARDITIS AND RIGHT-TO-LEFT INTRACARDIAC SHUNT - A CASE-REPORT OF SUCCESSFUL OPERATION

Tricuspid regurgitation caused by blunt chest trauma is generally quit e tolerable for a long time in a clinical setting. This article report s on a 68-year-old patient suffering from progressive dyspnea after a blunt chest trauma having occurred 5 months previously. Flu-like sympt oms occurred for several days before severe respiratory distress began upon the day of admission. Transesophageal echocardiographic evidence of endocarditis acid right-to-left shunt across a patent foramen oval e (PFO) was demonstrated. Traumatic tricuspid insufficiency in this ca se was complicated with infective endocarditis and right-to-left intra cardiac shunt. Cyanotic congestive heart failure occurred suddenly. He underwent emergency surgical repair with success. Based on the result s presented herein, we recommend that early diagnosis be made for trau matic regurgitation and endocarditis by echocardiography so as to ensu re therapeutic intervention.