A Study of the Venous Pulse in Tricuspid Valve Disease

Abstract

Diagnosis of lesions of the tricuspid valve is often difficult. Mechanically, however, the action of this valve is capable of study through its effect upon the peripheral veins, somewhat as the disturbances of the aortic valve are reflected in the peripheral arteries. The conditions to be differentiated are "organic" versus "functional" regurgitation, and obstruction of the valve from rheumatic stenosis. Graphic records of the venous pulse with suitable reference tracings may make this possible.

Normal and abnormal diameter pulse waveforms in the fetal inferior vena cava

“…The reversed flow across the incompetent tricuspid valve contributes to the shortening of the X nadir and a further augmentation of the V wave (V/A ratio >100%). The severity of tricuspid regurgitation (reverse flow) is associated with the V wave height (Messer et al, 1950). Our results therefore complement the Doppler flow data.…”

Tricuspid valve repair for treatment and prevention of secondary tricuspid regurgitation in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery

“…The term "functional" has been used to describe this form of tricuspid regurgitation for several decades. As early as 1950, clinicians described methods of differentiating functional tricuspid regurgitation from "organic" tricuspid regurgitation [1]. This distinction became increasingly relevant in the 1960s with the advent of valve replacement, as surgery's role in managing valvular heart disease expanded rapidly.…”

Diagnosis and Treatment of Tricuspid Stenosis

“…Functional tricuspid regurgitation can usually be distinguished from that due to organic disease (McCord and Blount, 1952;Messer et al, 1950;Muller and Shillingford, 1954). In functional regurgitation the x descent following valve closure is reduced or abolished because the systolic wave in the right atrium begins relatively early.…”