Native valve salvage for post-traumatic tricuspid regurgitation

We describe two cases of successful management by native valve salvage of a n uncommon tricuspid valve regurgitation following blunt chest trauma. The two patients were diagnosed 13 years and six years, respectively, after the trauma. In both cases, tricuspid valvular insufficiency was caused by ante rior leaflet prolapse due to chordal and papillary muscle rupture associate d with annular dilatation. Operative repair with implantation of artificial chordae, papillary muscle reinsertion and ring annuloplasty resulted in co mplete recovery. The need for increased awareness of this lesion in patient s suffering blunt chest trauma is emphasized, and the relevant literature r eviewed.