Short term experience of tricuspid valve dilatation

Four patients with tricuspid stenosis aged 25-42 years [mean 3 years] were submitted to tricuspid valve dilatation using two 20 mms balloons. In addition to Tricuspid Valvuloplasty 2 had mitral Valvuloplasty and 2 had both mitral and aortic Valvuloplasty. Following balloon dilatation tricuspid valve area was inadequate in 50% Tricuspid regurgitation as estimated by Doppler was the same as predilatation in all and did not increase in 6 months 'follow-up. Hemodynamic and symptomatic improvement was evident. The future looks to be optimistic for this technique

Prosthetic valve endocarditis [PVE] related problems, management and recommendations

Thirty patients [18 females and 12 males] with the diagnosis of P.V.E. were treated at the cardiothoracic surgery department of Ain Shams University hospital. 12 pts. 40% were on medical treatment and 18 pts. 60% on medical and surgical treatment. Their mean age was 37 year [14-6ly] and they were classified into early P.V.E [within 2 months postoperatively] and late P.V.E [after 2 months post operatively]. ECHO Doppler study was the main tool used for non invasive assessment of meafunctioning valve with P.V.E. Antecedant endocarditis of the native valve was the most important single risk for the development of P.V.E. The over all mortality was 66.7% [20 pt.] 92% [11 pt.] from the medically treated group and 50% [9 pt] from the surgically treated group. There was a statistically significant reduction in the surgically treated group mortality than the medically treated group