Tricuspid Valve Disease

Treatment

Careful Monitoring
Medications
Heart Valve Surgery

Careful Monitoring

If tests reveal a mild to moderate condition and the patient has no symptoms, the physician will suggest regular medical checkups to carefully monitor the tricuspid heart valve. Medications can be prescribed or surgery done, if appropriate.

Medications

While no medication can correct a defect in the tricuspid valve, certain drugs can minimize the symptoms by easing the heart's workload and regulating the heart's rhythm.

Antibiotics prior to dental or surgical procedures are needed by almost everyone with a heart valve defect. Without preventive antibiotics, bacteria can enter the bloodstream during these procedures and lead to a serious bacterial infection of the heart called endocarditis. Read more about endocarditis prevention.

Depending on the nature of the tricuspid heart valve disease, the following medications may be prescribed:

• Digitalis, which reduces the heart's workload and eases some symptoms.
• Diuretics, which can lower the salt and fluid levels in the body, lowering the pressure at which blood passes through the valves. Diuretics also can reduce swelling and ease the heart's workload.
• Anticoagulant medicines, which prevent blood clots, especially in patients who have had heart valve surgery and have a replacement valve made of synthetic material.
• Beta-blockers, which control the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
• Calcium channel blockers, which affect the contractions of muscle tissue in the heart. By lowering blood pressure and reducing the heart's workload, calcium channel blockers may delay the need for heart valve surgery.
• ACE inhibitors, which widen blood vessels, lower blood pressure and decrease the heart's workload.

Tricuspid Valve Surgery

If valve damage becomes more severe and medications do not control the symptoms, surgery to repair or replace the valve becomes necessary.

Read more about tricuspid valve surgery.