Tricuspid atresia : Causes - Symptoms- Diagnosis -Treatment

 What is Tricuspid Atresia?

Tricuspid atresia is a congenital (present at birth) heart defect that happens once the right atrioventricular valve of the guts isn't properly formed. The tricuspid valve lies between 2 of the chambers of the heart (the right atrium of the heart and right ventricle). In tricuspid atresia, there's solid tissue rather than the tricuspid valve. This sheet of tissue blocks blood resulting in the proper atrium to the right ventricle. attributable to this blockage, the right ventricle sometimes is little and underdeveloped.


Once tricuspid atresia is present, a sufficient quantity of blood is not able to flow through the heart associate degreed into the lungs, wherever it might acquire chemical elements because the blood in a very traditional heart would. As a result, the lungs of a baby with this defect aren't able to give the remainder of the body with its needed oxygen.


What is Tricuspid Atresia?
Tricuspid Atresia


In a baby who is born with tricuspid atresia, blood flows from the higher right chamber (right atrium) to the upper left chamber (left atrium) of the guts through a hole within the septum, the wall between the chambers. The outlet may be a heart defect (atrial septal defect) or an enlarged natural opening (foramen ovale). The hiatus ovale ought to shut shortly once a baby is born. If there's no chamber septate defect, a Dr. may have to make a foramen ovale to permit blood flow.

In some babies with tricuspidata abnormal condition, there could be a hole between the heart’s 2 lower chambers (ventricular septal defect). Blood can flow through this hole and into the proper ventricle, which is able to pump the blood into the lungs.

tricuspid atresia is a congenital disorder of the tricuspid valve, that is, the valve that controls blood results from the right atrium (upper right chamber of the guts) to the proper ventricle (lower right chamber of the heart). A tricuspidata abnormal condition happens once this valve isn't kind at all, and no blood will go from the right atrium through the right ventricle to the lungs for oxygen. As a result of a baby with tricuspid atresia may have surgery or alternative procedures shortly after birth, this congenital disorder is taken into account as a vital innate heart defect. innate means that gift at birth.


In a very baby, while not a congenital heart defect, the right aspect of the heart pumps oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs through the most pulmonary artery. The blood that comes back from the lungs is oxygen-rich and may then be tense to the remainder of the body through the aorta. In babies with tricuspid atresia, the right atrioventricular valve that controls blood results the proper atrium to the right ventricle isn't formed, so blood is unable to induce to the right ventricle and dead set the lungs. For this reason, the right ventricle may be underdeveloped. The most arteria pulmonalis might also be tiny with little or no blood browsing it to the lungs.

In tricuspid atresia, since blood cannot directly flow from the proper atrium to the right ventricle, blood should use alternative routes to bypass the unformed tricuspidata valve. Babies born with tricuspid abnormal conditions typically even have an associate degree chamber septate defect, that could be a hole between the right and left atria, or a cavum septal defect, which is a hole between the right and left ventricles. These defects permit oxygen-rich blood to combine with oxygen-poor blood, in order that oxygen-rich blood features a thanks to get tense to the remainder of the body.


Doctors might offer the baby medication to stay the baby’s patent blood vessel (PDA in the image) open once the baby’s birth. The personal organizer is the vase that enables blood to maneuver around the baby’s lungs before the baby is born, and it always closes after birth. Keeping this association open allows blood to induce to the lungs for chemical elements and bypass the tiny right aspect of the guts.


Some babies with tricuspidata abnormal condition also can produce other heart defects, together with transposition of the good arteries (TGA). In TGA, most connections (arteries) from the heart are reversed. The most respiratory organ artery, that usually carries oxygen-poor blood from the proper side of the guts to the lungs, currently arises from the left aspect and carries oxygen-rich blood coming back from the lungs back to the lungs. The arterial blood vessel, that usually carries blood from the left side of the heart to the body, now arises from the proper side and carries oxygen-poor blood back dead to the body. Once a baby has each tricuspidata abnormal condition and TGA, blood is ready to induce to the lungs as a result of the most arteria pulmonalis arises from the developed left ventricle. However, blood cannot get out to the body because the aorta arises from the poorly fashioned right ventricle and is small.

  1. Circulatory system

  1. Heart

  2. Arteries

  3. Veins

  4. Blood vessels

Medical terms

  • Tricuspid atresia is a heart defect present at birth (congenital) 

  • in that a valve (tricuspid valve) between 2 of the heart' chambers isn't formed. Instead, there' solid tissue between the chambers, which restricts blood flow and causes the correct lower heart chamber (ventricle) to be underdeveloped. A baby, kid or adult with angular  abnormality can't get enough chemical elements through its body. individuals with this condition tire easily, are typically wanting breath and have blue-tinged skin. Angular  atresia is treated with multiple surgeries. Most babies with tricuspid atresia who have surgery live well into adulthood, tho' follow-up surgeries are often needed.

  • The tricuspid valve separates the right atrium from the right ventricle It is composed of three leaflets two of which are attached to the inside walls of their respective chambers; each leaflet has a chord extending outwards connected through cords to opposite sides of the heart The third leaflet does not reach outwards since it cannot connect with its respective cord on the opposite side With Tricuspid Atresia or Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia usually only one leaflet is formed and no chord extends beyond it (pulmonary atresia) so that flow between chambers is.

  • symptoms The symptoms of tricuspid atresia may be apparent soon after birth Babies born with TR have a higher risk for congenital heart defects such as ventricular septal defect (VSD) and tetralogy of Fallot VSD is where the muscle wall between two chambers of the heart doesn't completely form from the muscular partitioning in utero which allows the oxygen-poor blood to mix with oxygen rich blood Tetralogy of Fallot has four defects: 1. The pulmonary artery branches off from the wrong side of the heart sending deoxygenated blood to the lungs.

Symptoms Tricuspid atresia

In most cases, babies born with tricuspid atresia have symptoms within a week after being born.

Tricuspid atresia symptoms become evident soon after birth, and can include:

  • Blue tinge to the skin and lips (cyanosis)

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Tiring easily, especially during feedings

  • Slow growth and poor weight gain

Some babies or older individuals with angular  abnormal condition additionally develop symptoms of heart failure, including:

  • Fatigue and weakness

  • Shortness of breath

  • Swelling (edema) in the legs, ankles and feet

  • Swelling of the abdomen (ascites)

  • Sudden weight gain from fluid retention

When to see a doctor

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the on top of symptoms in yourself or your child.

Causes Tricuspid atresia

Tricuspid atresia occurs throughout vertebrate heart development. Some genetic factors, such as Down syndrome, could possibly increase your baby' risk of inborn heart defects such as angulate atresia, however the reason for congenital cardiovascular disease is sometimes unknown. The causes of heart defects, such as tricuspid atresia, among most babies are unknown. Some babies have heart defects due to changes within their genes or chromosomes. Heart defects are also thought to be caused by a mixture of genes and alternative factors, such as the items the mother comes up-to-date with in the environment, or what the mother chuck or drinks, or certain medicines she uses. 

How the heart works

Your heart is split into four chambers — the proper atrium and ventricle and atrium of the heart and left ventricle. The proper aspect of the heart moves blood to the lungs, wherever it picks up elements before it circulates to your heart's left side. The left side pumps blood into an oversized vessel referred to as the aorta, that circulates the oxygen-rich blood to the remainder of your body. Valves manage the flow of blood into and out of your heart. These valve receptors permit blood to maneuver to the following chamber or one among the arteries, and they are near to keep blood from flowing backward.

When things go wrong

In tricuspidata atresia, the correct aspect of the guts can't pump enough blood to the lungs as a result of the right atrioventricular valve missing. A sheet of tissue blocks the flow of blood from the right atrium to the right ventricle. As a result, the right ventricle is typically little Associate in Nursing underdeveloped (hypoplastic). Blood instead flows from the right atrium to the atrium cordis through a hole within the wall between them (septum). This hole is either a heart defect (atrial body part defect) or an enlarged natural gap that' imagined to shut before long when birth (patent opening ovale). When the blood flows to the left atrium, it enters the ventricle and so is tense to the arteria. to urge to the lungs, blood flows through a vessel that connects the aorta to the arterial blood vessel (ductus arteriosus). All hearts have a blood vessel whereas the baby is within the uterus, however shortly after birth, the ductus closes. A baby with an abnormal tricuspidata condition would possibly want medication to stay the ductus from closing after birth. A procedure or surgery to make a gap between the atria or to supply an affiliation from the aorta to the arterial blood vessel could be needed. Several babies born with tricuspidata abnormal conditions have a hole between the ventricles (ventricular congenital heart defect). In these cases, some blood can flow through the opening between the ventricle and also the right ventricle, and so blood is sent to the lungs through the pulmonary artery. However, the valve between the correct ventricle and the pulmonary artery (pulmonary valve) might be narrowed, which may cut back blood flow to the lungs. If the semilunar valve isn't narrowed and if the cavity body part defect is large, an excessive amount of blood can flow to the lungs, which may cause heart failure. Some babies produce other heart defects as well.

Risk factors Tricuspid atresia

In most cases, the reason behind an inborn heart defect, resembling angular atresia, is unknown. However, many things would possibly increase the danger of a baby being born with a congenital heart defect, including:

  • A mother who had German measles (rubella) or another viral illness during early pregnancy

  • A parent who has a congenital heart defect

  • Drinking alcohol during pregnancy

  • Smoking before or during pregnancy

  • A mother who has poorly controlled diabetes

  • Use of some varieties of medications throughout pregnancy, similar to the skin condition drug isotretinoin (Claravis, Amnesteem, others), some anti-seizure medications and a few affective disorder medications

  • The baby is born with Down syndrome, a genetic condition that results from an extra 21st chromosome

Complications Tricuspid atresia

A grave complication of tricuspidata abnormality may be a lack of gas to your baby' tissues (hypoxemia).

Complications later in life

Although treatment greatly improves the end result for babies with angulate atresia, complications will develop later in life, including:

  • Formation of blood clots that can lead to a clot blocking an artery in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) or cause a stroke

  • Easy tiring when participating in activity or exercise

  • Heart rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias)

  • Kidney or liver disease

Can you live with tricuspid atresia?

Tricuspid atresia is a heart defect present in about 1 of every 3,000 newborns The condition causes the valve that separates the right upper and lower chambers of the heart from closing improperly This means that blood flows from the right side of the heart back into the lungs rather than to the body As a result many infants with tricuspid atresia are blue due to lack of oxygenated blood getting to their tissues The defects can be very serious potentially leading to a shortened life expectancy for affected individuals But as tricuspid atresia is treatable (with either surgery or.

How serious is tricuspid atresia?

Tricuspid atresia is an uncommon heart defect and the most severe form of congenital heart disease in which there are blocked arteries between the right upper chamber (atrium) and the right lower chamber (ventricle) Without surgery babies born with this condition often have poor growth chronic lung problems and malfunctioning hearts Symptoms may include a bluish tint to their skin or lips a slow heartbeat and difficulty breathing.

Is tricuspid atresia curable?

Depending on the severity of tricuspid atresia a baby may survive for a few hours or into childhood Children with severe heart defects often have other issues that make survival and maintaining quality of life impossible Treatments that may help improve survival include medicines such as digitalis and diuretics used to rid body fluids from accumulating in the lungs and other organs Ventricular assist devices (VADs) work by increasing the amount of blood pumped out of the heart and increase oxygen-rich blood flow throughout the body VADs are implanted surgically but don't require adhesion to the interior walls of the.

How common is tricuspid atresia?

Tricuspid atresia is a rare heart defect in which the structure that divides into three chambers of the heart during fetal development fails to separate so that only two regions are formed One region receives blood from both the right and left ventricles and is called an atrium-ventricular canal The other region receives blood from the right ventricle alone without going through the separating wall and is called a tricuspid valve This results in insufficient oxygen levels in body tissues and fluids and requires surgical intervention within hours or days after birth.

Is tricuspid atresia a disability?

According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders tricuspid atresia is a rare heart defect that affects about one in every 5,000 newborns Heart defects occur when an unborn baby's heart does not form properly during development and there are over 3,000 different types of congenital heart defects Tricuspid atresia occurs when the valve between the upper two chambers fails to develop properly so doctors must perform surgery on infants to correct it Once an individual has been diagnosed with this condition it is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and protection by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments.

How long do Fontan patients live?

Patients with a Fontan system are at higher risk for developing mitral valve problems bicuspid aortic valves and other types of heart valve abnormalities They also have an increased risk for developing abnormal rhythms of the ventricles that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest One study showed nearly 50 percent of patients with Fontan systems developed some kind of arrhythmia over 40 years The study also documented nearly 30 percent had severe heart failure 14 percent died from worsening valvular disease or required repeat open-heart surgery and 8 percent went into permanent shock requiring full mechanical support.

Prevention Tricuspid atresia

Congenital heart defects akin to angular  abnormal conditions sometimes aren't preventable. If you have a case history of heart defects or a toddler with an innate heart defect, a genetic counselor and a medical specialist intimate in congenital heart defects can assist you investigate risks related to future pregnancies. Some steps you'll take which may scale back your baby' risk of heart and different birth defects in physiological condition include:

  • Get adequate folic acid. Take four hundred micrograms of folacin daily. This amount, that is usually in antepartum vitamins, has been shown to cut back brain and neural structure defects, and folic acid could facilitate stopping heart defects, too. 

  • Talk with your doctor about medication use. Whether you're taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs, AN seasoner product or a dietary supplement, consult with your doctor before exploiting them throughout pregnancy. 

  • Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Either can increase the risk of congenital heart defects.

  • Avoid chemical exposure, whenever possible. While you're pregnant, it's best to stay away from chemicals, including cleaning products and paint, as much as you can.

Diagnosis Tricuspid atresia

Tricuspid atresia is sometimes  seen on ultrasound  before birth. A fetal echocardiogram (a more detailed ultrasound scan of the fetal heart) can provide more information and help the delivery team plan treatment.

 A  pulse oximeter screening test is usually performed on all newborns immediately after birth using a light on the tip of a finger or toe. If tricuspid atresia is not found before birth, this test shows that the baby's blood does not contain as much oxygen as expected. The delivery team will then conduct further testing to find the problem and  plan for treatment.Tricuspid atresia is usually diagnosed with an echocardiogram. An echocardiogram uses sharp sound waves bouncing off your child's heart to create moving images that the doctor can see on a video screen.

Before birth

Because of advances in ultrasound technology, doctors can usually identify tricuspid atresia on a routine ultrasound exam during gestation.

After birth

Your baby's doctor may suspect a heart defect, such as B. tricuspid atresia if your newborn has bluish skin or breathing difficulties.

 Another clue is hearing an abnormal whistling sound caused by insufficient blood flow (heart murmur) when you listen to your baby's heart during a physical exam.

If tricuspid atresia is suspected, your baby's doctor might order tests including:

  • Echocardiogram. This check uses sound waves that bounce off your baby' heart to provide moving pictures the doctor will read on a video screen. In a very baby with angulated atresia, the sonogram reveals the absence of a tricuspid valve, irregular blood flow and different heart defects. 

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG). This test records the electrical activity of the heart and can determine whether the heart's chambers are enlarged, or the heart rhythm is abnormal.

  • Pulse oximetry. This measures the oxygen in your or your baby's blood using a sensor placed over the end of your or your baby's finger.

  • Chest X-ray. This might show whether the heart and its chambers are enlarged. It can also show whether there is too much or too little blood flow to the lungs.

  • Cardiac catheterization. A thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into a blood vessel in your child's groin and guided to the heart. This test is rarely used to diagnose tricuspid atresia and can be used to examine the heart before surgery to treat tricuspid atresia. 

Treatment Tricuspid atresia

Tricuspid atresia has life-threatening complications, including insufficient oxygen supply to body tissues and a high red blood cell count, which can cause blood clots that can lead to a stroke or heart attack. These complications can be avoided with timely treatment.

 Although medication can help babies with tricuspid atresia, the condition is usually treated with surgery.

 There is no way to replace a tricuspid valve in tricuspid atresia. Treatment consists of surgery to make sure there is enough blood flowing through the heart and into the lungs.This often requires more than one operation. Medications to strengthen the heart muscle, lower blood pressure, and remove excess fluid from the baby's body, as well as supplemental oxygen to help the baby breathe, may also  be given before the surgery.

Medications

Before surgery, your kid' heart specialist would possibly advocate that your child take the internal secretion autacoid to assist widen (dilate) and preserve the ductus arteriosus.

Surgeries or other procedures

Some of the procedures used to treat tricuspidata abnormality are a brief fix to extend blood flow (palliative surgeries). Procedures that may be required include:

  • Atrial septostomy. Rarely, a balloon is employed to form or enlarge the gap between the heart's higher chambers to permit additional blood to be due the proper atrium to the left atrium. 

  • Shunting. This creates a bypass (shunt) from a main vessel leading out of the guts to the blood vessel resulting in the lungs (pulmonary artery), that improves O levels. Surgeons typically implant a shunt throughout the primary time period of life. However, babies usually outgrow this shunt and may like another surgery to switch it. 

  • Pulmonary artery band placement. If your baby features a cavity congenital heart defect and an excessive amount of blood flowing to the lungs from the heart, a doctor would possibly place a band round the arterial blood vessel to scale back the flow. 

  • Glenn operation. When babies outgrow the primary shunt, they typically need this surgery, which sets the stage for a lot of permanent corrective surgery, known as the Fontan procedure. Doctors sometimes perform the spaceman operation once a toddler is between three and six months old. Doctors take away the first shunt, then connect one amongst the big veins that usually returns blood to the guts (the superior blood vessel cava) to the artery instead. This procedure permits blood to flow on to the lungs and reduces the work on the left ventricle, decreasing the chance of harm to it.

  • Fontan procedure. A variation of this customary treatment of angulate abnormalcy is sometimes done once the kid is two to five years old. In general, the operating surgeon creates a path for the blood that returns to the center (the inferior blood vessel cava) to flow directly into the pneumonic arteries that then transport the blood into the lungs. 

  • Doctors sometimes leave an opening between the pathway and the right atrium (fenestration).

Follow-up care

To monitor heart health, you or your kid can want womb-to-tomb follow-up care with a specialist who focuses on inherent heart disease. Your or your child' cardiologist will tell you whether or not you or your child must take preventive antibiotics before dental and different procedures. In some cases, your child' cardiologist would possibly advocate limiting vigorous physical activity. The short- and intermediate-term outlook for youngsters who have a Fontan procedure is mostly promising. a range of complications will occur over time and need extra watching and procedures. Failure of the circulation system created by the Fontan procedure would possibly build a heart transplant necessary.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Here are some tips for caring for your child with tricuspid atresia:

  • Strive for good nutrition. Your baby may not be obtaining enough calories as a result of wearing throughout feeding ANd an accrued want for calories. It's usually useful to present your baby with frequent, tiny feedings. Breast milk is a superb supply of nutrition, however if your baby isn't getting enough nutrition because of tiring during feeding, your doctor would possibly impose a special high-calorie formula. Some babies might get to be fed through a feeding tube. 

  • Preventive antibiotics. Your or your child' heart specialist can probably advocate preventive antibiotics be taken before bound dental and different procedures to forestall microorganism from infecting the inner lining of the center (infective endocarditis). active smart oral hygiene — brushing and flossing teeth, obtaining regular dental checkups — additionally helps prevent infection. 

  • Stay active. Encourage the maximum amount of traditional play and activity as you or your kid will tolerate or as your doctor recommends, with ample chance for rest. Staying active helps your or your child' heart keep fit. 

  • Keep up with routine medical and well-child care. Standard immunizations are inspired kidren|for youngsters|for kids} with inborn heart defects, furthermore as vaccines against the flu, respiratory disease and metabolism syncytial virus infections. Your child ought to take all medications as prescribed. 

  • Keep follow-up appointments with your or your child's doctor. Your child will need at least annual appointments with a doctor trained in congenital heart conditions. Your child's doctor is likely to recommend several tests to evaluate your or your child's heart condition.

Adults with tricuspid atresia

If you're Associate in Nursing adult with tricuspid atresia, you wish to be seen often throughout your life by a doctor trained in adult innate heart conditions. Your doctor is probably going to suggest regular tests to judge your condition at these appointments. Your doctor would possibly recommend that you simply take preventive antibiotics before bound dental or medical procedures to forestall infective endocarditis. raise your doctor regarding what activities are best for you, and if there are sports or activities that you ought to limit or avoid.

Tricuspid atresia and pregnancy

Women with angular  abnormality who are considering physiological conditions ought to ask a doctor who focuses on adult inherent heart diseases also as a maternal-fetal drugs specialist. If you are becoming pregnant, it's best to visualize a doctor who specializes in pregnancies in women with congenital heart disease. For ladies who have had a Fontan procedure, pregnancy is thought-about high-risk. Some women, reminiscent of those with a history of heart failure, will be discouraged from changing into pregnant women.

Coping and support

Caring for a baby with a serious heart problem such as tricuspid atresia can be challenging. Here are some strategies that might help:

  • Try to maintain normalcy and closeness. Maintaining an everyday routine can facilitate each of you and your child. Even though your baby is within the hospital, try and pay the maximum amount of time as you can. embrace alternative youngsters you have. Family bonding is vital for your baby's social and emotional development. 

  • Seek support. Ask members of the family and friends for help. raise your child' heart surgeon regarding support teams and alternative sorts of assistance. The yank Heart Association offers a support cluster referred to as Mended very little Hearts. 

  • Record your baby's health history. Write down your baby's diagnosis, medications, surgery and other procedures and their dates, the name and phone number of your child's cardiologist, and other important information about your baby's care. It's also helpful to keep copies of surgical reports.

  • Talk about your concerns. As your kid grows and develops, discuss your issues concerning his or her health together with your child' cardiologist. keep in mind that several kids with innate heart defects, corresponding to angular  atresia, age to steer full lives. 

Preparing for your appointment

Eventually you or your baby can see a heart specialist with expertise in treating inherent heart defects. Here's some data to assist you prepare for the appointment.

What you can do

Make a list of:

  • Symptoms you've noticed in yourself or your child, including any that may seem unrelated to a heart defect

  • Important personal information, including case history of non inheritable  heart disease, sicknesses the mother had throughout physiological state or behaviors, reminiscent of smoking, during pregnancy 

  • Questions to ask your doctor

Take a friend or friend along, if possible, to assist you keep in mind the data your doctor provides you. 

For a innate heart defect, inquiries to raise the specialist include:

  • What tests are needed?

  • What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?

  • Will this require more than one surgery?

  • How can I make myself or my child more comfortable?

  • Are there restrictions to follow?

  • If I get pregnant again, is there a way to prevent this from happening again?

  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can have? What websites do you recommend?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you questions, such as:

  • Have symptoms been continuous or occasional?

  • What, if anything, seems to improve the symptoms?

  • Does anything worsen the symptoms?

General summary

  1. Treatment for tricuspid atresia depends on the severity of the condition For some people no treatment is needed beyond medications for heart rhythm abnormalities and blood pressure control For others with more complex problems open-heart surgery is necessary So far there have been few cases in which a cure has been possible However new advances in medical care are offering better results than ever before.

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