[Clinics and Practice 2011; 1:e20] [page 33]

Severe tricuspid valve insufficiency causes right atrial dilatation, venous congestion, and reduced atrial contractility, and may eventually lead to right heart failure. We report a case of a patient with severe tricuspid valve insuffi-ciency, right heart failure, and a massively dilated right atrium. The enormously dilated atrium compressed the right lung, resulting in a radiographic appearance of a mediastinal tumor. Tricuspid valve repair and reduction of the right atrium was performed. Follow up examination revealed improvement of liver function, reduced peripheral edema and improved New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. The reduction of the atrial size and repair of the tricuspid valve resulted in a restoration of the conduit and reservoir func-tion of the right atrium. Given the chronicity of the disease process and the long-standing atri-al fibrillation, there is no impact of this opera-tion on right atrial contraction. In combination with the reconstruction of the tricuspid valve, the reduction atrioplasty will reduce the risk of thrombembolic events and preserve the right ventricular function